Reisterstown Man Dies After Fight, Killer Sentenced To 18 Months

CARROLL COUNTY, MD — Nearly eight months after a Reisterstown man died from a fight, the person who caused his fatal injuries was sentenced.

Raymond Charles Banz, 43, of the 15000 block of Dover Road in Reisterstown, died Dec. 23.

He had been at a holiday party the night before where authorities said he became intoxicated. When someone tried to make him leave, Banz got into a physical altercation, officials reported.

Todd Michael Dauses, 50, of the 300 block of East Belcrest Road in Bel Air, dragged and punched the Reisterstown man before stomping on his abdomen as he was on the ground, according to the Carroll County Times, which cited charging documents stating both parties had been drinking before the fight.

Dauses was later charged with manslaughter, first-degree assault, second-degree assault and reckless endangerment. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 10 years in jail with all but a year and a half suspended Monday, Aug. 19, the Carroll County Times reported.

Dauses reportedly pleaded guilty because had he been convicted at trial of first-degree assault, he may have received a harsher sentence. In Maryland, manslaughter carries a sentence of up to 10 years, and first-degree assault could result in up to 25 years.

Banz's mother reportedly read a victim impact statement at Dauses' sentencing saying that she forgave him and realized neither man was at his best that night.

Both men had been at a party in the 2700 block of Coon Club Road near Westminster at the time of the fight on Saturday, Dec. 22, according to the Carroll County Sheriff's Office.

Ultimately, Banz left and returned to his home in the 15000 block of Dover Road in Reisterstown, authorities reported. A friend drove him home and the next day went to check on him at noon, at which point Banz refused medical attention and was awake, according to the Carroll County Times, but when the friend returned that night, he was dead.

At 9 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 23, officers said they were dispatched to the home after a 911 caller reported the resident needed medical attention. When police arrived, authorities said Banz was deceased.

Internal injuries likely contributed to the death of Banz, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined through an autopsy on Christmas Eve.

According to the Carroll County Times, Dauses is a trained paramedic, and his attorney said that he "feels terrible" about what happened.

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