Burglar Who Fondled 7-Year-Old Sentenced to Prison

GLEN BURNIE, MD — A Talbot County man who confessed that he reached through a 7-year-old girl’s bedroom window and fondled her has been sentenced to prison and must register as a sex offender when he is released, authorities said.

Anne Arundel County Police charged Kevin Hamilton Manning, 25, of the 2100 block of Phillips Road in Tilghman Island with multiple counts of burglary and sexual assault for two breakins and the contact with the child.

Prosecutors said Wednesday that Manning pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary and fourth-degree sex offense and was sentenced to six years in prison, with five years of supervised probation. Manning must also register as a Tier I sex offender.

"This defendant thought he could get away with burglarizing two homes, and in the process sexually abuse a young child as she slept," said Anne Arundel County State's Attorney Wes Adams in a statement. "This man needs to be behind bars."

The sexual assault happened the morning of Feb. 5 in the 7700 block of Hancock Lane in Glen Burnie, according to police. From there, Manning broke into a nearby house in the 1200 block of Cathedral Drive less than an hour later. When the homeowner confronted the man in her kitchen, he fled, leaving behind stolen items in a nearby field.

A DNA sample from a pair of latex gloves discarded near the Cathedral Drive burglary led police to Manning, who was arrested in the 200 block of Crain Court in Glen Burnie.

Police say Manning admitted that he committed the Feb. 5 burglaries on Hancock Lane and Cathedral Drive. Manning had been staying at locations close to the crime scenes. Sex crimes detectives searched several other locations and reportedly found evidence linking Manning to the burglary and child sex-offense crimes.

Manning was caught on video running along the same path of the second home.

For both burglaries, Manning was referred to the Patuxent Youthful Offenders Program and the Eligible Persons Program. He must meet these conditions: mental health evaluation and treatment, sex offender evaluation and treatment, alcohol/drug evaluation and treatment, abstinence from alcohol and drugs, random urinalysis, no contact with either victim (or the mother of the 7-year-old girl), and to register as a Tier I sex offender.

Anne Arundel County Police urge any other victims or anyone with information to call the Sex Offense Unit at 410-222-4732. You can remain anonymous by calling the Anne Arundel County Police Tip Line at 410-222-4700.

»Photo of Kevin Hamilton Manning, courtesy of Anne Arundel County Police