Inmate Sentenced In Attack Against Harford County Correctional Officer: Prosecutor

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — Matthew Dwight Tingler, 39, of Joppa has been sentenced after he entered a guilty plea June 22 for attempted first-degree murder.

In November 2022, Tingler attacked Corporal Michael Vesek who was a correctional officer at the Harford County Detention Center while Tinger was an inmate there. Victim impact statements provided by both Vesek and Colonel William Davis of the Harford County Sheriff's Office identified the "profound and lasting" impact the attack has had on Vesek, his family, the law enforcement community and the community as a whole, prosecutors noted.

Sentencing guidelines from the state for Tingler proposed a range of 25 to 40 years of incarceration. State's Attorney Allison Healey argued that this case was an example of an "upward deviation" from those guidelines and requested life in prison, citing Tingler's "violent criminal history" and the "heinous nature of the conduct in this case." Healey also pointed out the numerous opportunities for rehabilitation and treatment available to Tingler while in the criminal justice system, all of which were determined to be unsuccessful.

Judge Diane Adkins-Tobin agreed that a "clear message must be sent to the inmate population that the court will not tolerate these kinds of incredibly vicious acts." She added that "there are people who are just plain evil and that is Mr. Tingler." She ordered Tingler to be transferred immediately to the division of corrections and not held locally while pending additional matters. She sentenced him to life in prison.

"I commend Corporal Vesek for his bravery today in addressing the court and reliving the attack that he had to endure at the hands of Matthew Tingler. It is my hope that (the) life sentence will bring Corporal Vesek and his family some closure and am relieved that justice was served ... we sent a strong message that violence in our community and against our law enforcement will not be tolerated," Healey said.

Davis, chief deputy, spoke on behalf of the sheriff and agency.

“During the course of performing his duty, Corporal Vesek showed kindness and compassion, and as a result he was the target of a heinous and deliberate act of violence. He was subjected to a vicious assault, a calculated attempt on his life…Corporal Vesek is a dedicated and selfless public servant who has committed his career to maintaining the safety and security of our community. He went to work everyday knowing the risks that come with the job, but he never expected that he would face such a grave threat within the walls of our detention center. This incident has had a profound impact not only on him, but also on our entire correctional staff," Davis said.