LA PLATA, Md. -- A Maryland man has been sentenced to one year in jail after a judge convicted him of violating the state’s ban on large gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prosecutors say state District Court Judge W. Louis Hennessy convicted 42-year-old Shawn Marshall Myers of two counts of failure to comply with an emergency order on Friday after a trial without a jury.
Hennessy also sentenced Myers to three years of probation after his jail term at the Charles County Detention Center.
In March, Myers disregarded repeated orders to disband a party at his home after law enforcement officers found him hosting a second large gathering there in less than a week.
COVID-19 Precautions
Most patients with COVID-19 have mild to moderate symptoms. However, in a small proportion of patients, COVID-19 can lead to more severe illness, including death, particularly among those who are older or those who have chronic medical conditions.
COVID-19 spreads primarily through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Symptoms include fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. Symptoms appear within 14 days of being exposed to an infectious person.
Virginia health officials urged the following precautions:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer only if soap and water are not available.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Avoid contact with sick people.
- Avoid non-essential travel.