Berlin Man Shot By OCPD Gets 12 Years

SNOW HILL -- A Berlin man, shot by Ocean City police last December during a stabbing attack on his estranged wife, was sentenced last week in Worcester County Circuit Court to 25 years in jail, about half of which was then suspended.

Marvin Jefferson Mitchell, 28, in July entered an Alford plea to attempted first-degree murder and a pre-sentence investigation was ordered. In an Alford plea, a defendant does not plead guilty, but acknowledges the state has enough evidence to prosecute the case. Back in Circuit Court last Friday, Mitchell was sentenced to 25 years in jail, all but 12 of which was suspended. He was also placed on probation for five years following his release.

Shortly after 11 a.m. last Dec. 20, 2010, Ocean City police officers responded to a 911 call for a domestic dispute on 82nd Street. When officers arrived on the scene, they discovered a suspect, later identified as Mitchell, armed with a knife and attacking a female victim, later identified as Shanna Mitchell, 27, also of Berlin, his estranged wife.


According to police reports, after repeated orders to drop the knife were not heeded by Mitchell, an officer was forced to shoot the suspect in order to end the attack on his estranged wife, who survived the attack. The victim suffered a stab wound as a result of the attack and was treated at the scene by Ocean City fire department paramedics before being transferred to PRMC in Salisbury. Mitchell was also treated at the scene for a gunshot wound to the abdomen and was also taken to PRMC.


The following day, the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation (WCBI) charged Mitchell with attempted first- and second-degree murder, first- and third-degree burglary, first- and second-degree assault, possession of a dangerous weapon with intent to injure, reckless endangerment and violation of a protective order.


Just five days prior to the incident, Mitchell had been arrested and charged with second-degree assault for an unrelated incident. On the same day, Mitchell’s estranged wife obtained a temporary protective order against him, prohibiting him from contacting her or entering her residence. The temporary restraining order also ordered Mitchell to stay away from her place of employment.