Murder USA: No honor among thieves, Robert Thomas Smith charged with murder of his burglary gang gal-pal

An earlier criminal charge of drug distribution for incidents which allegedly took place on Nov. 21, 2010 resulted in the Cecil County States Attorney dropping the charges on Sept. 9, 2011. Smith had been arrested by Rising Sun Police Officer First Class Dan Stickney. Following filings by the Public Defender for the prosecution to provide access to the state chemist to validate the alleged drugs, a motion for a speedy trial and for discovery of evidence, and the Cecil prosecutors folded and dropped the charges.

On Nov. 15, 2011, Smith and Engelberth and a third co-defendant were charged by Maryland State Trooper Chad E. Warner with burglary, rogue and vagabond and theft by warrant in District Court for incidents dating from Oct. 31, 2011 to Nov. 1, 2011. The case was forwarded to Circuit Court for a jury trial and Smith was represented by another Public Defender, E. B. Fockler IV. (See above)

The most recent criminal charges against Smith prior to the murder charges, came on Sept. 9, 2014 when he was charged in Cecil County District Court with five criminal charges including theft, credit card theft, theft by counterfeit, identity theft and use of another’s credit card. The charges were placed by Detective William Sewell. A trial date is set for Dec. 8, 2014.