MARYLAND BRIEFING

Montgomery has hosted several competition events in the past and was selected because of the county's proximity to major population centers, said Maryland Senior Olympics Chairman Emeritus Bob Zeigler. Although the venues for most events have not been determined, organizers hope to center most of them in the Germantown area.

-- Michael Tunison

Man Sentenced in 2006 Rape in Rockville

A District Heights man received two life sentences plus 85 years for raping a 25-year-old woman he ambushed May 22, 2006, at the parking lot of a Safeway store in the King Farm area of Rockville.

Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge David A. Boynton imposed the stiffest sentence possible. The man, David Nathaniel Hall, 39, had been convicted of numerous violent crimes before. Hall took the stand during his trial and said the sex had been consensual.

-- Ernesto Londoño

ANNAPOLIS

Council Rejects Proposed Plastic Bag Ban

The Annapolis City Council rejected a proposed ordinance last night that would have banned the use of plastic grocery bags at local stores.

The majority of the council members endorsed alternative legislation that would encourage voluntary use of reusable bags by residents and retailers. By introducing that measure, council members avoided the possibility of defeating the original legislation banning plastic bags. A public hearing will be held on the revised proposal before a final vote is taken.

Alderman Samuel Shropshire (D-Ward 7), the proponent of the plastic bag ban, said Mayor Ellen O. Moyer (D) and other council members "sidestepped the issue."

"This was a cop-out," Shropshire said. "It gave them the right not to face the issue of plastic bags."

-- Raymond McCaffrey

FREDERICK COUNTY

Man Who Died After Stun Gun Use Is Identified

A 20-year-old man who died Sunday after a Frederick County sheriff's deputy used a stun gun on him to break up a fight was identified by authorities yesterday as Jarrel Gray.

Cpl. Jennifer Bailey of the sheriff's office said a deputy used the Taser about 5 a.m. in the 7000 block of Gresham Court East. Bailey said Gray apparently refused to take his hand out of his pocket after being ordered to, which prompted the deputy to act. Gray fell to the ground and was taken to Frederick Memorial Hospital, where he died.

-- Lori Aratani

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY

Woman Gets 6 Months for Relief Fund Fraud

A 28-year-old Suitland woman has been sentenced to six months in jail in Prince George's County for bilking a nonprofit organization out of more than $78,000 in relief funds for Hurricane Katrina victims, authorities said yesterday.

Latarsha Delaine pleaded guilty Friday during a court hearing in Upper Marlboro to stealing $78,394 from the General Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, a nonprofit group associated with the Masons, as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors.

Delaine, who worked in the accounting department, recorded fraudulent entries in the organization's check register for checks "made payable to charitable organizations" or to "Hurricane," referring to Katrina relief, and then wrote checks to herself, depositing them at Prince George's credit union locations, prosecutors said.

-- Candace Rondeaux