LEONARDTOWN, Md. — A Mechanicsville man has been sentenced to life in prison, plus an additional 20 years, for the premeditated murder of his stepfather.
On Monday, St. Mary’s County Circuit Court sentenced 39-year-old Marvin Orlando Johnson after he was convicted of first-degree murder and using a firearm in a violent crime.
The case stemmed from a May 24, 2023, incident in which deputies responded to a home on Three Notch Road in Mechanicsville and found a man fatally shot in the head. Following an investigation, authorities determined Johnson had deliberately planned and carried out the killing.
A St. Mary’s County jury found Johnson guilty after a four-day trial in July 2024. Prosecutors, led by Special Assistant State’s Attorney Jeff Maylor and Assistant State’s Attorney Zach Varda, urged the court to impose the maximum sentence, emphasizing the crime’s severity.
Despite the defense’s request for a reduced sentence, Judge Amy Lorenzini ruled for the maximum penalty:
- First-degree murder: Life in prison
- Use of a firearm in a violent crime: 20 years, served consecutively
With this sentencing, Johnson will spend the remainder of his life behind bars.
