IS A BLACK VULTURE THE BEST LOGO FOR TREE SERVICE OPERATOR CHARGED WITH ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF GUNS AND TURTLES?

Fifty-six counts of Firearm & Animal Cruelty Violations were Charged Against Tree-Cutting Business Owner Following Fire That Engulfed Sheds and Trailers, Sent Ammo Flying, Popping, and Exploding.

HOLLYWOOD, MD. – Thomas Newton Ferrall III (DOB 12/06/1952) of 42738 St. Johns Road, Hollywood, Md., was charged on Nov. 5, 2024, in St. Mary’s District Court for possession of dozens of firearms following a fire that took place on October 21, 2024, in which ammunition began exploding during a fire that raged through several sheds.

The charges, filed by Maryland Natural Resources Police Officer Vernon Owens, include possession of firearms without permits and failure to obtain a permit. A preliminary hearing was held on Dec. 20, 2024; another hearing is set for January 17, 2025, in St. Mary’s County District Court.

On October 21st, 2024, Deputies with the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Department responded to a residence on the 42000 block of St. Johns Road in Hollywood to assist the Fire Department with a shed fire involving possible ammunition exploding inside. In the process of containing and extinguishing the fire, the Fire Department located dozens of firearms in one of the sheds.

As a result of the firearms being located, a search and seizure warrant was obtained and served on the residence by the Sheriff’s Department Criminal Investigations Division in conjunction with the Office of the State Fire Marshal, Department of Natural Resources Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Numerous firearms and large quantities of ammunition were seized from the property.

The fire in October also led to forty-eight charges of animal cruelty being brought against Farrell and was elevated to be heard in St. Mary’s County Circuit Court. Hearings are set for January 13, 2025, before Circuit Court Judge Terrence J. McGann. Trial dates are set for May before Circuit Court Judge Joseph Stanalonis. Neither set of charges in court records reveals that an attorney represents Farrell. However, court records show that taxpayers may end up paying for a free attorney for Farrell III as he is eligible for a public defender.

Forty-two Eastern Box Turtles, exceeding the allowed limit of one such member of the species, were discovered at the scene of the October fire. Others were Eastern Painted Turtles and a Black Vulture. Officials charged that the specimens were kept in violation of animal cruelty laws as they were kept in poor conditions.

Thomas Newton Farrell IV (DOB 03/10/1978) of 42738 St. Johns Road, Hollywood, Md., hired Leonardtown attorney Daniel Slade to represent him on charges brought by St. Mary’s County for violating a stop work order regarding removing piles and logs from a property on Nov. 21, 2023. In a plea deal, Farrell entered a guilty plea before District Court Judge Kristy Holt Chesser and was given eighteen months of unsupervised probation. St. Mary’s County Land Use and Growth Management inspector James Owens filed the complaint.

Criminal felony theft charges were filed against Farrell the Fourth in Calvert County, resulting in attorney Slade bargaining for a Stet Docket plea on August 10, 2017.

Maryland DNR states on its website: “All tree care professionals practicing in Maryland must obtain a license. Without a license, they may not practice or advertise tree care services in the state. As a public service, we make the names and addresses of licensed tree experts available on DNR Online.”

There are no current Maryland licenses for either Farrell or King Cutters. The Facebook page of Thomas Farrell continues to post the sign above and advertises tree removal services by “Superman” and also promotes the sale of firewood at great prices.

Farrell is an endless promoter on social media.

The Superman sale is still going on for 29 more days , so instead of paying between $ 200.00-$285.00 a cord ,I will be selling a cord of firewood cut ,split ,and delivered to your house locally for $150 cash

So do not miss the Superman sale of the year always trying to help the homeowner save money & give back to the community, that should light up your day 

Thomas Farrell posted:

“You know I’m always building and doing something. I just can’t help myself being an entrepreneur. That’s what you do and are always giving back. and you know you’re doing good when everybody’s jealous because they can’t get on your level or exceed it , they do what they can handle just run their mouth.”

Farrell should be able to obtain a license and insurance to comply with Maryland law.

 Certain Characteristics of Unlicensed Tree Expert
Companies Advertising in Maryland, U.S.
Michael F. Galvin
Abstract.
In 2005, Maryland’s tree expert licensing law, initially enacted in 1945, was amended to include tree removal as an activity requiring a tree expert license. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MD DNR) sought to identify and communicate with the potentially affected community regarding the pending changes in the law by a number of means,
including a search of companies advertising tree services in Maryland by online phone listings. The majority of firms (69.91%) found to be advertising tree services online were unlicensed tree experts (UnLTEs). A significant number of those UnLTEs (40%) did not provide full contact information, including a street address, and no current address was available
for over 25% of them. Only 21 of the UnLTEs studied had ever been the subject of a complaint to MD DNR, and those firms accounted for only 18.2% of complaints MD DNR received regarding UnLTEs during a 10-year period. UnLTEs were found in approximately equal measure in one of three business types: incorporated, unincorporated, or unknown (sole proprietorships, general partnerships, or non-compliant). UnLTEs are pretty ubiquitous in small numbers across Maryland
with the largest concentrations found close to the borders of adjacent states, in the northeast metropolitan area of Maryland’s largest city (Baltimore), and around the state capital (Annapolis).