Former Prince George's Officer Pleads Guilty In Crash That Killed Court Bailiff

UPPER MARLBORO, MD — A former Prince George's County police officer has pleaded guilty to criminally negligent manslaughter by motor vehicle in a July 2025 crash that killed a county court bailiff.

Anthony Coleman, 35, of Upper Marlboro, entered the guilty plea in connection with the death of 56-year-old Carlton Herndon, a Prince George's County District Court bailiff, State's Attorney Tara Jackson announced Friday.

Coleman was employed as a Prince George's County police officer at the time of the crash but was off duty and driving his personal vehicle.

Related: Prince George's County Officer Indicted In Crash That Killed Bailiff

His sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 5 at 2 p.m.

The fatal crash happened on July 7, 2025, shortly before 8:40 p.m. on northbound Route 301 at Missouri Avenue.

According to Maryland State Police, Herndon was driving a Nissan Maxima and attempting to cross Route 301 when Coleman, driving a northbound Ford F-250 pickup truck, struck his car.

Herndon, of Clinton, was pronounced dead at the scene. Coleman refused medical treatment.

State police investigators said speed and alcohol were contributing factors in the crash.

Coleman was indicted in January on several charges, including negligent manslaughter involving a vehicle, criminally negligent manslaughter by vehicle, negligent homicide while under the influence of alcohol, homicide by motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol, driving under the influence and transporting a handgun while under the influence of alcohol.

The guilty plea resolves the criminally negligent manslaughter charge. Prosecutors did not specify in their announcement how they resolved the remaining charges.

Herndon was also a retired Metropolitan Police Department detective who served 28 years with the department before working as a court bailiff.