November 5, 2025: Former Maryland Department of Health Police Captain Pleads Guilty to Two Counts of Misconduct in Office

Maryland State Prosecutor Charlton T. Howard III announced today that former Maryland Department of Health Police Captain Astarte Hunt has pleaded guilty to two counts of Misconduct in Office.

According to the statement of facts read into the record, Captain Hunt served as a sworn law enforcement officer with the Maryland Department of Health Police Department beginning in 2016 and was promoted to Captain in 2022. Captain Hunt admitted that from January to May 2025, she attended college courses at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (“UMBC”) during her scheduled shifts with the Maryland Department of Health Police Department. Captain Hunt submitted timesheets reflecting that she was working with Police Department, while she was actually attending courses at UMBC.

Further, Captain Hunt was assigned a State-owned vehicle to utilize for business only. According to the statement of facts, in March 2023, Captain Hunt was reprimanded for utilizing a State-owned vehicle off-duty and was given instructions not to use the vehicle for personal reasons, including not to take the vehicle to her residence. Nonetheless, from January to May 2025, Captain Hunt utilized her State-owned vehicle after work, on weekends, and to drive to and from her classes at UMBC. She also drove the vehicle to her residence after work each day.

Maryland Department of Health Police officers are required to complete a Mileage Log at the end of each day, indicating the odometer reading on State-owned vehicles utilized by them. Captain Hunt admitted that she submitted false Mileage Logs, to appear as though she did not use her State-owned vehicle on weekends.

The Honorable Garret P. Glennon, Jr., accepted the guilty plea today and sentencing has been scheduled for December 18, 2025.

“Law enforcement officers are entrusted with upholding the law and maintaining public confidence and trust,” Howard stated. “When that trust is violated through misconduct or misuse of public resources, it undermines the integrity of the entire system. Our office will continue our efforts to hold all public officials who abuse their authority accountable for their actions.”

Mr. Howard thanked and commended Senior Assistant State Prosecutors Abigail Ticse and Brittany Dunklow and Senior Special Agent Daniel Bralove for their work on this case.

A copy of the Statement of Facts can be found HERE.

Contact: media.osp@maryland.gov