Wicomico County Man Sentenced to 40 Years for Sexual Abuse of a Minor

Wicomico County, MD - On March 12, 2026, Derrick Henderson, 51, was sentenced to 40 years in the Division of Corrections by the Honorable Kathleen L. Beckstead, Chief Judge of the Circuit Court for Wicomico County.

Henderson was convicted on December 3, 2025, following a two-day jury trial. He was found guilty of Sexual Abuse of a Minor, Attempted Rape in the Second Degree, Attempted Sexual Offense in the Fourth Degree, and Sexual Solicitation of a Minor.

Upon release, Henderson will be subject to lifetime sexual offender supervision and required to register as a Tier III sexual offender for life.

The offenses occurred in 2024, when Henderson sexually abused a minor in his household. At the time, he was on probation for a separate criminal conviction and had a prior criminal record.

Wicomico County State's Attorney Jamie L. Dykes acknowledged the strength shown by the victim throughout the process. "The survivor in this case displayed immense courage in disclosing the sexual abuse, and in testifying at trial. I hope the Court's powerful sentence in this case has afforded this survivor some degree of peace."

SA Dykes also recognized the contributions of Detective G. Wells of the Salisbury Police Department, who served as lead investigator, and members of the Wicomico County Child Advocacy Center. Senior Assistant State's Attorney Michael Calabrese, who prosecuted the case, was also commended for his advocacy throughout the proceedings.