Cops Seeking Devone Articus Hall, Suspect in Midnight Sledgehammer Assault

Cops Seeking Devone Articus Hall, Suspect in Midnight Sledgehammer Assault

LEONARDTOWN, MD  –  An ex-con drug dealer anxious to go back to the slammer broke bad in Lexington Park when police say he wielded a sledgehammer during an assault.

St. Mary’s Sheriff Spokeswoman ALisa Casas reports that on April 3, 2024, at approximately 12:34 a.m., deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Department responded to a reported assault at a residence in the 46000 block of Midway Drive in Lexington Park, MD. Two victims were assaulted with a sledgehammer, resulting in one person sustaining serious injury.

Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division (CID) have identified Devone Articus Hall, 35 (DOB 05/01/1998), who had an address at the Maryland Prison at Jessup, MD, in 2018, as the suspect in the assault. An arrest warrant has been issued for Hall, and detectives from CID are asking for the public’s assistance in locating him. The suspect is approximately 5’ 6” tall with a thin build.

Due to the nature of the assault, Detectives caution that Hall may pose an immediate danger to the public. Individuals are urged not to approach him and to immediately contact 911 if they encounter him.

Tipsters can also call Crime Solvers 24/7 at 301-475-3333 or send a text to Crime Solvers at 274637. Type “Tip239” in the message block and select SEND. After you get a response, continue your conversation.

Hall was convicted of the distribution of drugs with a firearm on September 11, 2009, in St. Mary’s County Circuit Court before Judge Michael Stamm. Hall was sentenced to 20 years in prison with all but five years suspended.

Maryland State Trooper Posch charged Hall with making threats to injure a state official on September 14, 2018, according to court documents. A judge ordered Hall to be examined for mental competency to stand trial, and on August 20, 2019, Hall entered into a plea deal with St. Mary’s State’s Attorney Richard Fritz, resulting in a sentence of three years in jail with all but one year suspended.

Hall was charged with conspiracy to obtain prescription drugs by fraud, and in a plea deal with Fritz, he entered a guilty plea and was sentenced to jail for two years on February 25, 2013.  Judge Michael Stamm presided over the trial.