Federal Officer's Killer Sentenced to Life Without Parole

Almost a decade after an off-duty federal police officer was killed during an Odenton robbery, a convicted felon was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison without parole in the murder.

William Lloyd McDonald, 35, of Glen Burnie was indicted in December 2011 with the first-degree murder of Benjamin Curtis, 47, that occurred in August 2006, as well as other charges, Patch previously reported. The “cold case” murder was solved in 2011 when Anne Arundel County Police received information that gave them evidence—which was corroborated with cell phone records from the night of the shooting—to charge McDonald.

A jury convicted McDonald on May 14, 2015, of killing Curtis, along with the crimes armed robber and multiple firearms offenses.

McDonald was sentenced to serve life in prison without parole for Curtis’s death, plus 20 years consecutive for armed robbery, 20 years consecutive for use of handgun in a crime of violence, and 5 years consecutive for the possession of a regulated firearm after a disqualifying conviction, without the possibility of parole.

This is consecutive to the 70-year sentence McDonald is already serving for violent armed robbery and theft, possession of a firearm, according to a release from the Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s office.

“There is no place for violent offenders on our streets,” said State’s Attorney Wes Adams. “My office will continue to focus on using all of our resources under the law to hold those persons accountable who have a reckless disregard for life. I appreciate Judge Paul Harris for recognizing the danger this individual poses to the citizens of our county.”

McDonald’s attorney argued that his client didn’t commit the crimes, reports the Capital-Gazette. A 2013 trial on the charges ended with a mistrial.

According to prosecutors, Curtis was sitting in his 2002 Ford Expedition with a woman in a parking lot at My Place Bar and Lounge about 2:30 a.m. on Aug. 12, 2006. That’s when McDonald approached the pair and demanded Curtis’s wallet and the woman’s purse. Curtis handed over the items and then McDonald got into the truck.

While the victims turned over their cash and cell phones, McDonald next climbed into the back seat and demanded that the woman take off her shirt, prosecutors said in court. That’s when the two men struggled and Curtis was shot.

During the fight, the woman ran from the car and reported the crime at a security gate at Fort Meade. Curtis was taken to the Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, where he died from his wounds.

Curtis was an officer with Federal Protective Services, a branch of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

»Photo of William McDonald, courtesy of Anne Arundel County Police