Flood Burglary: Ellicott City Woman Pleads Guilty in Portalli's Looting

ELLICOTT CITY, MD — An Ellicott City woman admitted to burglarizing Portalli's after the restaurant was ravaged by a flood over the summer.

Madeline Eve Scott, 30, of the 3700 block of St. Paul Street, pleaded guilty to fourth-degree burglary in Howard County Circuit Court this week and was sentenced to three days in jail and mental health treatment, among other stipulations.

One of the restaurant owners saw Scott leaving the restaurant in the 8000 block of Main Street with four liquor bottles, three of which he recovered after confronting her, according to Assistant State’s Attorney Dillon Yeung.

The burglary occurred on July 31, the day after a flood tore through Ellicott City, sweeping away vehicles and killing two people. Portalli's flooded during the event and remains closed as the business rebuilds.

The owners were not present in court this week but did submit a victim impact statement that said the looting was a "hateful and unsympathetic act by a stranger," according to the state's attorney's office.

Howard County Circuit Court Judge Lenore R. Gelfman sentenced Scott to three days in jail, 18 months of supervised probation, and successful completion of mental health treatment. The judge also ordered Scott to pay restitution and write letters of apology to the Portalli's owner and Ellicott City Partnership. Officials said she has already completed 83 hours of community service.

Photo by Elizabeth Janney.