Hunting at Blockhouse
The managed deer hunt at Blockhouse Point is underway. The two remaining dates for the hunt are Nov. 17 and 24.
Hunters will be in the park from one half-hour before sunrise to about 12 noon. Residents are discouraged from entering the park during those hours. Participants may only kill one buck, of eight points or more, and only after they have first killed a doe.
All hunters who are involved have completed a hunter safety course and a shooting proficiency test. Hunters are only allowed to use shotguns because of their limited range.
Other hunts in Montgomery County this season are being held at the Agricultural Farm Park, Rachel Carson Conservation Park and Little Bennett Regional Park.
The lottery for the opportunity to hunt has already been held.
For more information about deer in Montgomery County, visit http://www.mc-mncppc.org/environment/deer/deer_info.shtm.
Murderers Sentenced
Carols Aguilar, 23 of Gaithersburg and Jose Rivas, 22 of Gaithersburg were each sentenced on Nov. 4 to 30 years in jail for the murder of 19-year-old Samantha Benavides at Violette’s Lock in Potomac.
All but 20 years of Aguilar’s sentence were suspended, and all but 12 of Aguilar’s were suspended.
On Dec. 4, 2002, Aguilar, Rivas, Raul Giovanni Medina, 23, Benavides and two other men bought a 12-pack of beer in Gaithersburg and drank it at a local park, according to Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office.
The group then drove to Violette’s Lock. As Aguilar drove, Medina said, “Let’s kill Samantha,” according to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office.
After arriving at the canal, Medina told two of the men to go back to the car. He, Rivas and Aguilar then beat Benavides and threw her body into the canal.
The body was discovered on Dec. 13 by a man at the canal walking his dogs.
An autopsy determined the cause of death to be blunt force trauma to the head and drowning. It is unclear if the event was gang-related.
Medina was sentenced to 30 years on Oct. 21.
Clarification
In the “Ingleside By the Numbers” box in the Almanac’s Nov. 5 issue the number given for square footage, 168,000 square feet, included only the square footage for the seven, three-story buildings. The total square footage for the project, including all buildings could be well over 400,000 square feet.
Planning Board Live
The Montgomery County Park and Planning Commission meetings can now be heard live on the Commission’s website using free Windows Media software.
The website is www.mcparkandplanning.org. Call 301-495-4702.
Rapist Convicted
On Nov. 7, Richard Wolfe, 43 of Rockville, was convicted of raping an escort.
On Oct. 17, 2002 at 5:30 a.m., Police responded to a parking lot on the 6100 block of Montrose Road for a reported rape. The victim, an 18 year old woman had met Wolfe at a nearby apartment complex earlier that night. She had performed a strip dance, and Wolfe offered to pay her for sex. She refused.
Wolfe forced her, at knifepoint, to have sex with him. He then told her that he would kill her if she reported the incident, and that no one would believe her because of her profession.
A jury convicted Wolfe on one count each of first degree rape, first-degree sex offense and third degree sex offense. Sentencing is set for Jan. 7, 2004. He faces a maximum of two consecutive life sentences plus 10 years.
After the verdict, Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge revoked Wolfe’s bond pending sentencing. While still in the courtroom, he swallowed several sleeping pills and had to be taken to Shady Grove Adventist Hospital.
Donations Needed
The Montgomery County Humane Society has a shortage of blankets and towels which are used to keep animals warm. The animals need people to drop off their donations as soon as possible. Bring clean towels and blankets to the animal shelter at 14645 Rothgeb Drive in Rockville.