The following stories have been hand-selected by the Assignment Desk at News4:
LOCAL TEACHER SENTENCED IN CHILD PORN CASE
A former elementary school teacher and field hockey coach at Towson University was sentenced Wednesday to five years in prison for receipt of child pornography. John Joseph Kovach Jr., 53, of Reisterstown was an assistant field hockey coach at Towson University and a teacher and coach at a private elementary school in Montgomery County, according to a news release provided by the U.S. attorney for Maryland. Kovach started a field hockey program at the school in Ashton about a decade ago. The release did not name the school. (Baltimore Sun)
ALLEGED THIEF USES TODDLER IN PURSE SNATCHING
Felony theft charges are pending against a man who was caught on a surveillance camera using his young daughter to conceal a purse he'd stolen, police said. The incident occurred Sunday evening at Wegmans on 2281 Carl D. Silver Parkway in Fredericksburg. City police spokeswoman Natatia Bledsoe said a shopper reported that her purse had been taken about 6 p.m. from her cart. (Fredericksburg.com)
BETHESDA MAN ALLEGEDLY RIPPED OFF LENDERS
A Bethesda man is due in federal district court on Friday to answer charges that he ripped off lenders, his own relatives and others for more than $2.8 million in a mortgage fraud scheme. Douglas Skibicki, 41, faces up to two decades in prison if convicted, according to a statement from federal prosecutors. He has been indicted on charges of mail fraud, aggravated identity theft and bankruptcy fraud, in connection with the scheme, according to court records. (Gazette)
MIDDIES AND WICKETS
With midshipmen dressed in starched whites and Johnnies donning whatever the muses suggest, the Naval Academy and St. John's College will meet Saturday to determine this year's winner of the Annapolis Cup - a collegiate croquet grudge match running nearly 30 years. (The Capital)
ALEXANDRIA PARKING FEES
Alexandria officials are planning to raise parking rates among other major changes in the city's street parking system.
City leaders intend to increase parking meter rates -- perhaps by as much as 75 cents above the current $1 per hour rate -- in an attempt to increase revenue and space availability. "We need to raise the rates so that folks aren't sitting for hours and hours," said Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille. "We also need to increase turnover so that more visitors have access to our retail shops." (Examiner)
