Howard County Officer Charged with Stealing Father-in-Law's Civil War Documents

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A former Howard County Police sergeant faces federal charges for allegedly trying to sell Civil War documents stolen from his father-in-law’s Crofton home.

WBAL TV reports that Richard Malcolm has been charged with interstate transportation of stolen property and attempt to commit wire fraud. The FBI says Malcolm took Civil War-era letters, photographs and documents that originally belonged to Maj. George Keller Leet, a member of Gen. Ulysses S. Grant’s staff.

Malcolm’s father-in-law is a descendent of Leet.

After Malcolm reportedly tried to sell the memorabilia to a White Plains, NY, collector for $125,000, another collector learned of the transaction and contacted the victim. The Crofton man eventually realized nearly one-fourth of his Civil War collection was gone, the TV station says.

The historic documents were valued at $500,000 when they were appraised in 2012, reports WTOP.

Malcolm resigned from the Howard County department Tuesday after his police powers were suspended, WBAL says.

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