HEATHEN JAMES ANTHONY CHRISTIAN SENTENCED TO THE HELL OF MARYLAND PRISONS

25 YEAR SENTENCE FOR PCP DUI KILLER
JAMES ANTHONY CHRISTIAN

LA PLATA, MD— Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Tuesday, June 29, 2021, Charles County Circuit Court Judge Amy J. Bragunier sentenced James Anthony Christian, 46, of Bryans Road, to 25 years in prison for Motor Vehicle Manslaughter and 4 counts of Second-Degree Assault. Christian entered a guilty plea to the aforementioned charges on May 11, 2021.

Covington, commenting on the sentence, said: “Destanee is gone, and there is no remedy for that.  I am gratified, however, that the Court imposed a very significant sentence for this drugged driving case.  Given his behavior and total lack of concern for anyone else on the road that day, the defendant, quite frankly, earned this sentence.  The impact on him is unfortunate, but it is not the end of his life – and remember, he caused it.  He will come home one day.  Destanee, on the other hand, will never come home. Her family will never see her smile again. Christian caused that too. 25 years is appropriate.”

Smoking joints soaked in PCP was his style; 25 years in the slammer for killing Destanee Lyles is his future – good ridannce!

On October 14, 2018, troopers from the Maryland State Police responded to Maryland Route 6, west of Burch Road in Port Tobacco, for the report of a two-vehicle collision. Upon arrival, troopers observed a Maroon 2015 Nissan Rogue with severe front-end damage on the westbound shoulder of Route 6 and a Black 2014 Chevrolet Cruze with severe rear-end damage in a private driveway. Deputies from the Charles County Sheriff’s Department and members of the Waldorf Fire and Rescue Squad were already on the scene.

“This man is 46 years old and has been using PCP since 2010. He has been afforded probation. He has been afforded treatment. At this point, the opportunity has passed. Enough is enough. The community and justice demand he is incarcerated for 25 years…”

— Assistant States Attorney Tiffany Leigh Campbell

When troopers made contact with the operator of the Nissan Rogue, later identified as Christian, he appeared intoxicated and confused. Troopers detected a strong odor of marijuana emitting from the Nissan Rogue and observed a clear plastic bottle containing burnt tobacco cigarettes located inside the vehicle. The cigarettes appeared to be soaked in Phencyclidine (PCP).

An investigation into the collision revealed that a Chevrolet Cruze, operated by Tiauna Quarles and occupied by Destanee Keenae Lyles, as well as three other passengers, was traveling Eastbound on Maryland Route 6. Ms. Quarles had just left her driveway and was taking Destanee Lyles and two of her friends back to college in Virginia.  A Nissan Rogue, operated by Christian, was also traveling eastbound on Maryland Route 6 and approached the Chevrolet Cruz from behind. Christian attempted to pass the Chevrolet Cruze. However, he failed to control his speed to avoid a collision. The right front of the Nissan Rogue collided with the left rear of the Chevrolet Cruze.

The impact caused the Chevrolet Cruze to rotate clockwise and collide with a ditch. As a result, the rear axle became separated from the vehicle. The Chevrolet Cruze came to a final rest in a private driveway. Christian’s vehicle also rotated clockwise but came to a final rest on the roadway. The vehicle caught fire as a result of the collision but was extinguished by a Charles County Sheriff Deputy. At the time of impact, Christian was driving 109 miles per hour.

The occupants of both vehicles were transported to the hospital due to injuries sustained during the collision. Lyles, who was in the rear seat of the driver’s side of the Chevrolet Cruze, unfortunately, succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased at the University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center. She was only 18 years old.

It was later determined that Christian was involved in a hit-and-run incident before the deadly collision. Also, before the crash, he forced another vehicle off the roadway and almost side-swiped yet another vehicle just before the fatal crash.  One driver correctly estimated that Christian was traveling more than 100 mph just moments before the collision.

A blood sample taken from Christian indicated he had PCP in his system at the time of the incident.

05/11/2021 Plea

Judicial Officer
Bragunier, Amy

During sentencing, in a packed courtroom filled with Destanee’s family and friends, the prosecutor Tiffany Leigh Campbell told the judge, “This man is 46 years old and has been using PCP since 2010. He has been afforded probation. He has been afforded treatment. At this point, the opportunity has passed. Enough is enough. The community and justice demand he is incarcerated for 25 years. He put so many lives in danger. He took the life of an 18-year-old and almost four other lives. The defendant’s history, coupled with his behavior in this case, and his actions after it, warrant the twenty-five years.”

Frederick County Prosecutor Gave Dirtbag Killer a Big Sloppy Kiss in 2009 Plea Deal in Assault on Woman

• James Anthony Christian entered a guilty plea in Frederick County Circuit Court on July 25, 2016, to misdemeanor malicious destruction of property and was sentenced to sixty days in jail.  
• On March 19, 2016, Christian was found guilty in Frederick County Circuit Court of second-degree assault and given ten years in prison with all but six years suspended.
• On Aug. 31, 2015, a final protective order was issued against Christian to protect the petitioner in a case of domestic violence. Another domestic violence order was placed against Christian on Feb. 11, 2013.
• Christian won another plea deal in Frederick County Circuit Court on Aug. 24, 2009, when the Frederick States Attorney blew him a kiss on a charge of second-degree assault. THE DEAL: In return for a guilty plea, Christian was sentenced to jail for 18 months with all of the jail time suspended. The prosecutor gave Christian a big sloppy second kiss by agreeing to a fine of $500 with all of the fine suspended.

DWI HIT PARADE: Maryland State Police Arrest Alleged DWI Killer James Christian In PCP Impaired Fatal Wreck