LEONARDTOWN, Md. — John Otha Dickens, Jr., 35, of Lexington Park, has been sentenced to life in prison with 58 years of active incarceration for multiple violent offenses against a former intimate partner, State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling announced.
Dickens was convicted by a St. Mary’s County jury on November 21, 2024, for attempted first-degree murder, following a brutal knife attack in February 2023 that left the victim with life-threatening neck injuries. Emergency intervention was required to save the victim’s life.
At the time of the attack, Dickens was awaiting sentencing for previous assaults against the same victim, stemming from 2021 incidents. Despite this, he committed another violent act, escalating the severity of his behavior.
At the sentencing hearing, the State requested the maximum penalty—life in prison—which the court granted. The detailed sentence includes:
Attempted first-degree murder: Life in prison with 40 years active incarceration, consecutive
Second-degree assault: 8 years active incarceration, consecutive
Second-degree assault: 10 years, with 5 years active incarceration, consecutive
Third-degree burglary: 10 years, with 5 years active incarceration, consecutive
The total sentence amounts to life imprisonment with 58 years of active time behind bars.
“This sentence demonstrates our office’s commitment to stopping intimate partner violence in our county,” said State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling. “With this sentence, I hope our survivor can find some solace knowing that her abuser will no longer be able to harm her or her family.”
The case was investigated by Corporal Christopher DiToto and Trooper First Class Michael Posch of the Maryland State Police, as well as Detective Kortnie Marsch and Deputy Bianca Salas of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office.
The sentencing was prosecuted by Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Alena Mosier, representing the citizens of St. Mary’s County.