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Vol. 163, No. 42 • 50¢ SINCE 1855 April 12 - April 18, 2018 TODAY’S GAS PRICE “Broken Down” $2.74 per gallon Raskin evaluates the possibility of peace in the Middle East after recent trip Last Week Jordan and Afghanistan, meeting process has broken down complete- tions between him and Palestinian $2.73 per gallon By Neal Earley @neal_earley with heads of state in all three coun- ly,” Raskin said of peace negotiations leaders. tries. between Israelis and Palestinians. “I think Netanyahu seems to be A month ago More than a year after being $2.59 per gallon For Raskin, who is midway While Raskin said he was hope- very good at spotting threats and elected to the U.S. House of Repre- through his first term in Congress and ful that young organizers promoting working on national security,” A year ago sentatives, Congressman Jamie serves on the House Judiciary and peace in both Israel and the Palestin- Raskin said. “He seems far less at- $2.45 per gallon Raskin (D-Md.) got his first bit of Oversight and Government Reform ian territories could help one day tuned to addressing the peace process foreign policy experience after re- committees, said the trip was particu- move the parties to a two-state solu- and reviving negotiations.” AVERAGE PRICE PER GALLON OF UNLEADED REGULAR GAS IN turning from a Congressional trip to larly eye-opening, especially into the tion, he said he was pessimistic about During the trip, the delegations MARYLAND/D.C. METRO AREA the Middle East and Afghanistan. ACCORDING TO AAA current stalemate on peace talks be- current leadership. Raskin said Is- of 11 representatives of Congress did Raskin, along with 10 other De- tween Israeli and Palestinian leaders raeli Prime Minister Benjamin Ne- not meet with anyone from the Pales- mocratic members of Congress in- and the United States’ involvement in tanyahu spent almost all his time fo- tinian Authority, as part of its ban on INSIDE cluding House Minority Leader Nan- the war in Afghanistan. cusing on Israel’s security needs cy Pelosi (D-Calif.), visited Israel, “As far I can tell, the peace rather than potential peace negotia- See “Raskin,” page 8 Editor’s Chen to plead guilty to Notebook by Brian J. Karem carrying a gun in school By Suzanne Pollak @SuzannePollak The press room ROCKVILLE — Alwin Chen, the Clarksburg High School student The problems of cover- who brought a loaded Glock 19 ing a president in the White handgun to school, is expected to House press room in 2018. plead guilty on a charge that could Page 4 send him to jail for three years. Chen, 18, entered into a plea agreement April 5 to carrying a hand- gun on school property and will learn of his fate in a hearing before Circuit Court Judge John Maloney on April 24. He can be sentenced to 90 days to three years. COURTESY PHOTO In exchange for his expected guilty plea, two other charges were Alwin Chen Chen ever meant to hurt anyone. dropped, including possession of In an exclusive interview with weapon by a minor and bringing the the Sentinel, Litchfield described handgun to school on other days. classmate Chen as “a really sweet Chen has been in jail since his guy. He stuck up for his friends and Feb. 15 arrest, when the gun was was always respectful and would found in his backpack. never lay a harmful hand on a woman In a journal found in Chen’s or child.” home, the high school senior wrote Ramblin’ Man She particularly liked how hon- of shooting evil people and wanting est and funny he is, saying he could to kill criminals such as serial killers Travelling across the make her smile easily. or gang members, according to As- globe has its advantages for Although Litchfield said she sistant State’s Attorney Frank Laz- some. never saw any weapons, and Chen zaro. Chen also compared himself to never told her he brought any to a vigilante comic book hero. page 20 school with him, in retrospect, she At the time of his arrest, Chen said she was not surprised. said he carried a gun to protect him- “For some reason, I always had self and other students in case there a feeling in my gut that he had some was a school shooting, according to weapon with him,” she said. Howev- Lazzaro. er, she said, while Chen talked about Emma Litchfield, a 10th grader PHOTO BY JACQUI SOUTH at Clarksburg High School, who said Rockville attack Mark Schaefer makes a catch on the run. Schaefer scored she previously dated Chen for sever- See “Chen” two goals and one assist in a 7-5 victory over the Magruder Colonels. See al months, said that she didn’t believe page 8 page 23 for the story. 2THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY SENTINEL APRIL 12, 2018 EFLECTIONS The Montgomery County Sentinel, published weekly by Berlyn Inc. Publish- R ing, is a community newspaper covering Montgomery County, Maryland. Our of- fices are located at 22 W. Jefferson August 29, 1985 Street, Suite 309, Rockville, MD 20850. Founded in 1855 by Matthew Fields. All mail to: P.O. Box 1272, Rockville, MD 20849-1272. Subscription Rates for The Nine families left homeless after apartment closes Montgomery County Sentinel – Weekly by mail: $40.00 per year & $26.50 for Se- Each week the Sentinel visits a rent for more than her rent supple- ters rent supplements, said land- several families were doubling up. nior Citizens. (USPS) 361-100. memorable story from its archives. ment, provided by HOC to aid low lords are afraid of “Amityville Hor- A total of 35 families had to be relo- income families. ror.” cated. Bernard Kapiloff Nine families will be left Other apartments, Beckwith “They don’t want Amity peo- Of the nine families that have PUBLISHER E MERITUS homeless when the Housing Oppor- claims, discriminated against her ple on their properties,” Hillesland not yet found housing, Brown said Lynn G. Kapiloff tunities Commission shuts down because of she was a tenant at Ami- said. “Those are some of the kinds some of them were rejected because CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER/ ty Garden. The Gaithersburg apart- of things we are facing.” they had bad credit, some had previ- PUBLISHER what was formerly called Amity [email protected] Garden Apartments at the end of ment complex has been the scene of HOC took over management of ously been evicted from an apart- this month for renovation. two arsons, several drug arrests, and the 51-unit apartment complex from ment complex, and some had too Mark Kapiloff “What is going to happen to us at least one murder. National Reality Association last many children. Brown said a few of ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER at the end of the week?” asked Kath- “Some of them,” Beckwith month. Weeks before settlement, the families refused housing found [email protected] leen Beckwith who has not as yet said, “look at your address, ‘Oh, the commission decided to close for them, because it would mean EDITORIAL found new living quarters for her you’re from Amity Garden? I’m down the apartments for renovation leaving the Rockville/Gaithersburg sorry about your problem, but we and pledged to relocate the 26 fami- area. Brian J. Karem family of five. “How am I going to EXECUTIVE EDITOR register my daughter for school if we don’t have anything available,’” lies living there. “What is so disheartening is a [email protected] don’t know where we’re living at?” HOC officials confirmed that Jan Brown, project manager person who refuses two places then Beckwith said she was gone to discrimination may be a factor in for HOC’s takeover of Amity Gar- call the newspapers and says she has Brandy L. Simms why some of the nine families have den, said the commission had the re- no place to live,” Brown said adding SPORTS EDITOR 55 or 60 different apartments or [email protected] houses in search of a place for her not found places to live. Gary sponsibility for relocating more she was not referring to Beckwith. family to live. Many of the places in Hillesland, chief housing inspector families than originally expected. Brown said the department is “beg- MARK ROBINSON the Rockville/Gaithersburg area of Section 8 office which adminis- After settlement, HOC found out ging landlords” to take families. [email protected] CITY EDITOR ANDREW FEINBERG NEWS COPY EDITOR NEAL EARLEY Write us [email protected] ASSIGNMENTS The Montgomery County Sentinel David Wolfe PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR welcomes letters. TAZEEN AHMAD CALENDAR EDITOR All letters must be original, [email protected] CALL 301-838-0788 signed by the author FAX 301- 838 - 3458 COURTESY PHOTO NEWSROOM AND LEGAL ADVERTISING Martin Moise Chery, 21; Jordan W. Cobbs, 20; Tombong S. Saidy and must include the author’s daytime ADVERTISING Lonnie Johnson telephone number ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Three arrested in Silver Spring rape case 301-306-9500 ty Corrections will maintain custody “We do ask for the public’s help for verification. EMAIL: [email protected] By Kathleen Stubbs of suspects Martin Moise “Fat Mo” if they do know anything about the @kathleenstubbs3 Send letters to: Chery, 21, of Silver Spring, and Jor- two other individuals to contact Sherry Sanderson ROCKVILLE — District Court dan W. Cobbs, 20, also of Silver Montgomery County Police or the LEGAL ADVERTISING MANAGER Judge John Moffett denied bond Spring who will be held without state’s attorney’s office to enable us The Montgomery County Sentinel CALL 301-838-0788 Monday for two men charged with bond.