December 18, 2025: Former Maryland Department of Health Police Captain Sentenced to Jail for Two Counts of Misconduct in Office

Former Maryland Department of Health Police Captain Sentenced to Jail for 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 was sentenced to one year of incarceration, suspend all but 30 days, followed by one year of supervised probation by the Honorable Garret P. Glennon, Jr., for two counts of misconduct in office.

According to the statement of facts read at the plea hearing on November 5, 2025, Hunt, who served as a captain with the Maryland Department of Health Police Department beginning in 2022, was attending college courses at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) during her scheduled shifts with the Maryland Department of Health Police Department from January to May 2025. Hunt submitted timesheets reflecting that she was working with the Police Department, while she was actually attending courses at UMBC, doing schoolwork, and meeting with professors.

Further, Hunt was assigned a State-owned vehicle to utilize for business only. In March 2023, Hunt was reprimanded for utilizing a State-owned vehicle off-duty and was given instructions not to use the vehicle for personal reasons. However, Hunt continued to utilize the State-owned vehicle after work, on weekends, and to drive to and from her classes at UMBC. She then entered false information on a Mileage Log completed by her at the end of each day and submitted to the State at the end of each month.

For example, on a Friday and Saturday in April 2025, while Hunt was off duty, she drove the State-owned vehicle nearly 80 miles, arriving back at her residence after midnight. Hunt then submitted a Mileage Log, falsely indicating that the vehicle did not move over the weekend, and instead included the 80-mile change on the following Monday’s odometer reading.

While sentencing Hunt, Judge Glennon said his sentence reflected, “the repetitive course of conduct, the breach of trust, and the breach of the position of authority [Hunt] was in.”

“When the public’s trust in law enforcement is violated, the integrity of our entire justice system is put at risk. Our office remains firmly committed to ensuring that any public official who abuses their authority is held accountable for their actions,” said Howard.

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

A copy of the charging document can be found HERE.

Contact: [email protected]