June 7, 2019: City of District Heights Mayor Charged with Misconduct in Office

City of District Heights Mayor Charged with Misconduct in Office

State Prosecutor Emmet C. Davitt announced today that Eddie Martin, the current mayor of the City of District Heights Maryland, was charged in the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County with misconduct in office. The Criminal Information alleges that on June 8, 2017, Martin signed a letter on City of District Heights’ letterhead authorizing the purchase of approximately fifty-thousand dollars of Class B and Class C fireworks from Wayne’s World Fireworks and representing that these fireworks were to be used on behalf of the City of District Heights well knowing that the fireworks were being purchased by a personal friend for his own benefit. Class B and Class C fireworks are available for purchase by a municipality or with a federal explosive license. Misconduct in office is a common law misdemeanor that carries any potential sentence that is not cruel and unusual.

“Public officials cannot use their position to evade safety regulations for the personal benefit of their friends. Our elected officials must be held responsible for improperly representing personal interests as the interests of the people that they are supposed to represent.” Davitt said.

This matter was jointly investigated by the Office of the State Prosecutor, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Attorneys’ Office for the District of Maryland. All individuals who are charged are presumed to be innocent.