TROOPERS CHARGE PAIR IN HANCOCK BARRICADE

(Hancock, MD) – Maryland State Police have charged both the man and his girlfriend who were taken into custody last night after a two-day standoff in a Washington County motel.
After consultation with the Washington County State’s Attorney’s Office, James A. Prevatt, III, 26, of Moncks Corner, South Carolina, was charged with felony theft by possession of stolen property, two counts of threat of arson by use of an explosive device, and two counts of possession of controlled dangerous substances which are suspected marijuana and MDMA. Prevatt is incarcerated in the Washington County Detention Center on $500,000 bond on these charges. He is also being held without bond on the arrest warrant from Hagerstown City issued in 2000 for burglary. Officials in Massachusetts intend to file a detainer next week in response to the warrant on file in that state.
As a result of further investigation overnight, State Police investigators found Prevatt’s girlfriend, Rene’ Reynolds, 21, of Moncks Corner, South Carolina, was complicit with him during the past two days, including depicting herself as a hostage. Reynolds has been charged with felony theft by possession of stolen property, two counts of conspiracy to commit a threat of arson by use of an explosive device, and two counts of possession of controlled dangerous substances which are suspected marijuana and MDMA. Reynolds is being held in the Washington County Detention Center on $250,000 bond.
After their arrests last night, both Prevatt and Reynolds were transported by ambulance to the Washington County Hospital for medical checkups. Reynolds’ late-term pregnancy was confirmed by medical personnel. Both Prevatt and Reynolds were examined and released. They were taken to the State Police Hagerstown Barracks for processing. The two were taken to the court commissioner’s office about 7:00 a.m. today for their bond hearings before being held at the detention center.
In addition to the drugs found during the search of the motel room overnight, troopers also found a cache of stolen property that includes jewelry, cameras, electronic equipment and coins. Some of the property has already been positively identified as having been stolen in a residential burglary west of Hancock on August 11, 2008, in which about $17,000 worth of property was taken. Additional charges against the two are anticipated. Police found no firearms or explosives in the room.