November 1, 2024: Easton Police Department Officer Sentenced to Jail on Two Counts of Misconduct in Office
Maryland State Prosecutor Charlton T. Howard III announced today that Easton Police Department Sergeant Jason Dyott has been sentenced to four years of incarceration with all but six months suspended and three years’ supervised probation on two counts of Misconduct in Office in the Circuit Court for Talbot County, by the Hon. C. Carey Deeley, Jr.
In September, Sergeant Dyott was convicted of two separate instances of engaging in physical sexual conduct with two different teenage girls while on duty and working for the Easton Police Department. The Court found that on November 11, 2022, Sergeant Dyott was on duty as a sworn law enforcement officer, when he picked up a teenage victim from a residence and engaged in sexual intercourse with her inside of his patrol vehicle. The Court also found that on November 13, 2022, Sergeant Dyott was on duty as a sworn law enforcement officer with the Easton Police Department when he engaged in physical conduct in his police vehicle with a second teenage victim.
The Office of the State Prosecutor argued that the guidelines for the crime of Misconduct in Office have increased, effective today, November 1, 2024, meaning that the increase in the sentencing guidelines for the crime of Misconduct in Office would be applicable to Sergeant Dyott. The Office of the State Prosecutor advocated an increase to the guidelines for Misconduct in Office in front of the Maryland Sentencing Commission last year.
Today, prosecutors emphasized that this case, like many cases where individuals are victimized by a person in a position of trust, should result in a period of incarceration for Sergeant Dyott. The Judge found that regardless of the applicable guidelines, there were several reasons for departure from the guidelines when sentencing the defendant in this matter, stating several times that the behavior was “awful” and “well beyond an embarrassment.”
“Law enforcement officials in positions of trust must be held accountable for their wrongful actions, so that public faith in their agency, and government authority, can be preserved. We appreciate the judge’s careful consideration of this case,” said State Prosecutor Howard.
Mr. Howard thanked Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Mary Setzer and Deputy State Prosecutor Sarah David, who prosecuted the case, as well as Office of the State Prosecutor Senior Special Agents George Taylor and Jeff Stauder, the Talbot County Sheriff’s Office, and Joan Stammnitz, Director of Victim Witness Services for the Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s Office.
A copy of the charging document can be found HERE.
Contact
media.osp@maryland.gov