Fruitland, MD - On January 18, 2024, Honorable Kathleen Beckstead, Chief Judge of the Circuit Court for Wicomico County, Maryland, sentenced Milton Lee Harmon, Jr., 54 years old, of Salisbury, MD to sixteen (16) years in the Division of Corrections. Ten (10) years of that sentence will be without possibility of parole. 

Harmon was convicted by a Wicomico County jury on December 6, 2023, of Armed Robbery and related charges. Harmon remained in custody pending sentencing.

In the early evening hours of April 20, 2023, Harmon entered the Hampton Inn in Fruitland. In the vestibule of the hotel entrance, Harmon masked his face with a bandana and then, while armed with a fixed blade knife, Harmon approached the front desk clerk and demanded money. 

After collecting the cash, Harmon fled towards the area of North Dulaney Avenue in Fruitland, discarding items of evidence as he did so. These items were located by law enforcement in short order with the assistance of K-9 units from the Fruitland Police Department and the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office. 

Officers and deputies located Harmon about thirty minutes after the robbery and apprehended him after a brief foot pursuit.

Wicomico County State's Attorney (SA) Jamie Dykes commended Officer B. Dill of the Fruitland Police Department and all assisting FPD officers and deputies of the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office for their work in the investigation. SA Dykes also commended Senior Assistant State's Attorney D. Scott Messersmith, who prosecuted the case.