Hammonds v. State

GREENE, J. In the present case, we are asked to determine whether the trial court abused its discretion when it revoked Petitioner Terry Wayne Hammonds’s (“Petitioner” or “Hammonds”) probation for failing to “obey all laws,” when the court determined that Petitioner committed direct criminal contempt of court and violated Maryland Code § 9-303(a) (2002 Repl. Vol., 2005 Cum.Supp.) of the Criminal Law Article (hereinafter “ § 9 — 303(a)”). Specifically, on appeal, we address (1) wheth ²⁹ er Petitioner was in direct criminal contempt of court when he tore up a copy of his probation papers while seated next to the exit door in the courtroom following his criminal trial and sentencing, and when there was no finding of contempt by the trial judge at or near the time of the alleged contemptuous act and no evidence showed that Petitioner’s action interrupted the proceedings; and (2) whether Petitioner committed a threat within the meaning of § 9-303(a) when he threatened to harm a witness or victim but did not convey that threat to the witness or victim or make the threat with the belief that the threat would be communicated to the witness or victim. We shall hold that the record does not support a finding that Petitioner was in direct contempt of court, and that § 9 — 303(a) by its terms does not require communicating the threat to the victim or witness or a belief that the threat may be communicated to the victim or witness.

Accordingly, we reverse the judgment of the Court of Special Appeals and remand the case for further proceedings. I. Factual and Procedural History On April 23, 2010, Petitioner was on trial for second degree assault, which stemmed from an incident the previous year, when Petitioner struck and kicked Audrey Wilgis (“Ms. Wilgis”), his girlfriend at that time, during an argument. Following a guilty verdict, Ms. Wilgis gave a victim impact statement, 1 making claims as to her financial hardships and that she “just want[ed] to be left alone.” Petitioner was sentenced to ten years in prison, with all but 18 months suspended, and three years probation. Under the “Standard Conditions” of Petitioner’s Probation/Supervision Order, Petitioner was required to “[o]bey all laws.” Approximately one week later, the State petitioned to revoke Hammonds’s probation based on his actions following the April 23, 2010 sentencing.

Thereafter, a probation revocation ³⁰ hearing was conducted on June 3, 2010. At that hearing, the judge stated that the reasons for the hearing were “certain actions you took in the courtroom after I sentenced you, which I actually observed, as well as statements that I believe you made to other people after you left the courtroom.” Deputy John Wilson, who was standing next to Petitioner at the time of sentencing, testified at this proceeding. He stated that after Petitioner received his sentence, he calmly signed his probation papers, and then began to tear up his personal copy of the documents while seated “in a chair right next to the exit door.” Deputy Wilson then escorted Petitioner out of the courtroom and back to lockup. As they were walking down the hall, Petitioner “was talking out loud and he made several comments” in a tone “louder than normal.

It was just loud.” Deputy Wilson assumed the door to the courtroom was closed at the time Petitioner made these statements. He testified that Petitioner stated: “She don’t know it, but she just signed her death warrant,” and “she’s going to be one sorry bitch in a year and a half.” Petitioner then repeated these statements to other detainees when he was back in lockup. Deputy Wilson reported to the State’s Attorney’s Office that Petitioner made these statements. Following Deputy Wilson’s testimony and after relating her own observations, the trial judge revoked Petitioner’s probation, finding that “Hammonds was in contempt by his purposely and in this Court’s observation agitated manner ripping up the form, and that the threats he made this Court finds were made directed at the witness in this case.” On October 29, 2012, the Court of Special Appeals issued an unreported opinion affirming the Circuit Court’s decision, and held that there was no abuse of discretion when that court revoked Hammonds’s probation.

The intermediate appellate court held that, in reviewing the finding of contempt, “[gjiven that Hammonds’s action was conspicuous enough to draw the trial judge’s attention while court was in session,” the ruling was not clearly erroneous. As to the court’s finding that Petitioner violated § 9-303(a), the intermediate appellate court held that the “essential elements” of the retaliation statute were ³¹ established, and that the statute does not specifically require threats be made directly to the witness or victim, or with the belief that they would be communicated to the witness or victim. The court further emphasized that a conviction is not required to find that Petitioner failed to “obey all laws.” We granted certiorari, Hammonds v. State, 430 Md. 344 , 61 A.3d 18 (2013), to consider the following questions: 2 1. Can an individual be found, a month after the fact, to have been in direct contempt of court for tearing up court documents while seated next to the exit door of the courtroom after the court had moved on to another matter and where the court made no comment or finding of contempt at the time and there is no evidence that the proceedings were interrupted by the behavior? 2.

Can Md.Crim. Law Art. § 9-303(a)’s proscription against threatening to harm a reporting victim or witness be violated without that threat of retaliation being made directly to the witness or with the intent that the threat be conveyed to the witness? 3. Did the trial court improperly revoke Petitioner’s probation for acts and comments which the court deemed to constitute direct contempt and a violation of Md.Crim. Law Art. § 9-303(a)?

II

Standard of Review This Court has held that a probation revocation case typically involves two stages: “(1) a retrospective factual question whether the probationer has violated a condition of probation; and (2) a discretionary determination by the sentencing authority whether violation of a condition warrants revocation of probation.” Wink v. State, 317 Md. 330, 332 , 563 A.2d 414, 415 (1989). The State must satisfy the first stage by a preponderance of the evidence standard. Id. At the second stage, that of whether the court’s discretion should be exercised to revoke probation, appellate review is ³² for an abuse of discretion.

Trial judges do not revoke probation unless satisfied that probation should be revoked. Appellate review to determine whether there was reasonable satisfaction would simply analyze whether discretion was abused for want of any reasonable basis for the revocation. Were the trial court satisfied to exercise its discretion to revoke, in a case where there is not legally sufficient evidence of a violation, appellate review of the reasonableness of the trial court’s satisfaction should reveal the clearly erroneous or legally insufficient nature of the fact-finding of a violation. Wink, 317 Md. at 338-39 , 563 A.2d at 418 .

See also State v. Dopkowski, 325 Md. 671, 678 , 602 A.2d 1185, 1188 (1992) (“Abuse of discretion will be found only if the trial court has erroneously construed the conditions of probation, has made factual findings that are clearly erroneous, or has acted arbitrarily or capriciously in revoking probation.” (citation omitted)).

III

Contempt As one of two grounds for Petitioner’s revocation of probation, Petitioner was found in contempt of court for his actions inside the courtroom following his April 23, 2010 trial and sentencing for second-degree assault. At his probation revocation proceeding on June 3, 2010, the trial court determined that Petitioner violated the condition of his probation that he “obey all laws” by committing a contemptuous act at the earlier hearing. We shall hold that the record is not sufficient to support a finding that Petitioner was in contempt of court — specifically, direct criminal contempt of court — when he tore up his personal copy of the probation papers while seated next to the exit door of the courtroom following his sentencing. This Court has held that “[o]ne weapon in the court’s arsenal useful in defending its dignity is the power to punish for contempt.

But the magnitude of its force demands care ³³ and discretion in its use so as to avoid arbitrary, capricious or oppressive application of this power.” State v. Roll, 267 Md. 714, 717 , 298 A.2d 867, 870 (1973). “Because such individual differences may exist in the exercise of this potentially drastic power of the court, trial judges must be on guard against confusing offenses to their sensibilities with obstructions of the administration of justice.” Jones v. State, 32 Md.App. 490, 491 , 362 A.2d 660, 661 (1976). This Court has explained: We recognize two forms of contempt — direct and constructive — and two types of each form — criminal and civil. Direct contempt is committed in the presence of the trial judge or so near to him or her as to interrupt the court’s proceedings, while constructive contempt is any other form of contempt. Criminal contempt serves a punitive function, while civil contempt is remedial or compulsory and must provide for purging.

Smith v. State, 382 Md. 329, 338 , 855 A.2d 339, 344 (2004) (citations omitted); see also Ashford v. State, 358 Md. 552, 563 , 750 A.2d 35, 40-41 (2000). As conceded by both parties, if Petitioner’s paper tearing incident was contemptuous, it would fall into the category of direct contempt. “A direct contempt occurs when the actions of the contemnor interrupt the order of the courtroom and interfere with the conduct of business.” Roll, 267 Md. at 734 , 298 A.2d at 879 . Moreover, “[wjhen such disruption occurs within the sensory perception of a presiding judge he [or she] will have a sufficient knowledge of the contemptuous act which tends to interrupt the proceedings and will not have to rely on other evidence to establish all the details, though some of them can be supplied by additional testimony.” Id. Md. Rules 15-203 and 15-204 delineate what constitutes a direct contempt, and the proper process to follow when adjudicating a person for such an act. 3 When a trial court ³⁴ does not impose sanctions summarily for an alleged contemptuous act under Rule 15-203, Rule 15-204 mandates that any later proceeding involving a direct contempt shall be conducted pursuant to Rule 15-205 (constructive criminal contempt) or 15-206 (constructive civil contempt).

See King v. State, 400 Md. 419, 441 , 929 A.2d 169, 182 (2007) (noting that the later ³⁵ proceedings were subject to compliance with Rule 15-205). Here, had the trial judge later opted to pursue sanctions against Petitioner, she would have done so under the guidelines of Md. Rule 15-205 lor criminal contempt. In the instant case, Petitioner is confronted with an allegation of criminal contempt on the basis of conduct which occurred in the courtroom and was allegedly a violation of the condition of his probation that he obey all laws. See Dean v. State, 291 Md. 198, 203 , 434 A.2d 552, 555 (1981) (holding that if the trial court is reasonably satisfied that the probationer committed a crime, revocation is proper on the grounds that the probationer failed to “obey all laws”).

In order for a charge of direct criminal contempt to stand, the alleged contemnor must have acted willfully. See Ashford, 358 Md. at 563 , 750 A.2d at 40 . In a direct criminal contempt situation, “[w]hat is sought to be guarded against is an inability to comply caused by a deliberate effort or a wilful act of commission or omission and committed with the knowledge that it would frustrate the order of the court.” Ashford, 358 Md. at 562 , 750 A.2d at 40 (emphasis added). Moreover, “[bjefore the court could make a finding of wilfulness and direct contempt, there must be legally sufficient evidence that would be admissible in a criminal case to support those findings.” King, 400 Md. at 433 n. 3, 929 A.2d at 177 n. 3; see Dorsey v. State, 356 Md. 324, 343 , 739 A.2d 41, 51-52 (1999) (citing In re Ann M., 309 Md. 564, 568-69 , 525 A.2d 1054, 1056-57 (1987) (criminal contempt is a “common law offense” which “arises from a deliberate effort or a wilful act of commission or omission by the alleged contemnor committed with the knowledge that it would frustrate the order of the court”); Giant of Md., Inc. v. State’s Attorney, 274 Md. 158, 176 , 334 A.2d 107, 117-18 (1975) (“[W]hen the contempt is charged as criminal in nature, and the conduct is not shown to be plainly contemptuous on its face, proof beyond a reasonable doubt that the alleged contemnor possessed a contumacious intent is a necessary ingredient for an adjudication of guilt.”)). ³⁶ Petitioner’s alleged contemptuous conduct was brought before the court in a revocation of probation proceeding, rather than in a criminal contempt proceeding, and accordingly, the process and burden of persuasion of the two proceedings are different. 4 This Court has explained that “[i]t is firmly established that a revocation of probation hearing is a civil proceeding, in which the probationer is not cloaked with the full panoply of constitutional rights and procedural safeguards enjoyed by a defendant in a criminal cause.” Gibson v. State, 328 Md. 687, 690 , 616 A.2d 877, 878-79 (1992).

Before probation may be revoked, a court must be reasonably satisfied that the probationer has violated a condition of his or her probation, and this “reasonable satisfaction need be established by no more than a preponderance of the evidence.” Gibson, 328 Md. at 695 , 616 A.2d at 881 . Indeed, “the quality and the quantity of the evidence offered at the civil revocation proceeding” is what controls. Gibson, 328 Md. at 696 , 616 A.2d at 882 . Therefore, even when a probationer has not been convicted of a subsequent crime, “[i]f it is shown by independent, probative evidence” that such a crime was committed and the trial court is reasonably satisfied that the probationer committed that crime, “probation may be revoked on the ground that the probationer violated the special condition of his probation that he obey all laws.” Dean, 291 Md. at 203 , 434 A.2d at 555 .

The inquiry at the probation revocation proceeding, then, should have been whether the evidence showed, by a prepon ³⁷ derance of the evidence, that Petitioner willfully and in the presence of the presiding judge, “interrupted the order of the court and interfered with the dignified conduct of the court’s business.” Md. Rule 15-203. We review the trial court’s determination that Petitioner committed direct criminal contempt under an abuse of discretion standard, and shall hold that the record as to the paper-tearing incident is not sufficient to support a finding that Petitioner committed contempt of court in violation of the “obey all laws” provision in his probation order. It is clear that Petitioner’s act of tearing up his copy of the probation papers while seated next to the exit door of the courtroom failed to reach the level of a contemptuous act, particularly when compared to other Maryland case law evaluating the requirements for direct criminal contempt. Although the trial judge stated, five weeks after the incident, that she did perceive Petitioner tear up the paper on April 23, based on this record, the act of tearing up the probation papers (while seated next to the exit door of the courtroom) neither interrupted the order of the court, nor did it interfere with the dignified conduct of the court’s business.

Essentially, the record does not support a finding that Petitioner made a “deliberate effort” to disrespect the presiding judge or interrupt the court proceedings. Moreover, Deputy Wilson described Petitioner’s demeanor as “calm” when he received his sentence and executed the paperwork, and never testified that Petitioner acted “violently,” in a threatening or insulting manner, or in an out of control manner at that point in time. In a case somewhat factually similar to the present case, the intermediate appellate court reversed the trial court’s finding of contempt where a spectator in a courtroom “slammed his hands down” on the back of the bench in front of him “apparently in exasperation at the justice meted out to” his friend. Jones v. State, 32 Md.App. 490, 492 , 362 A.2d 660, 661-62 (1976).

As in the present case, the Petitioner in Jones was not standing before the court at the time and committed a single, non-disruptive act, apparently in exasperation with the events that occurred in court. Conversely, this Court has only ³⁸ recognized more disruptive and confrontational acts to be contemptuous. In Mitchell v. State, 320 Md. 756 , 580 A.2d 196 (1990), the defendant was found in direct criminal contempt when he “gesture[d] with his middle finger” to the trial judge after he was sentenced and while he was still in front of the presiding judge. 5 In another case, a defendant repeatedly used “loud and vociferous tones” to yell, curse, and interrupt the proceedings, which resulted in his removal from the courtroom. Wilkins v. State, 293 Md. 335, 336 , 444 A.2d 445, 446 (1982).

In that case, the finding of direct criminal contempt was not overturned. Wilkins, 293 Md. at 340-41 , 444 A.2d at 448 . The present case is clearly distinguishable from other cases in which this Court has upheld a finding of direct criminal contempt. Moreover, while not required here, the trial judge did not acknowledge the alleged contemptuous act at the time it occurred, nor did she issue a written contempt order which would have shown her intent to pursue a finding of contempt against Petitioner.

Under Md. Rule 15-204, if sanctions for direct contempt are not issued summarily, “the judge, reasonably promptly after the conduct, shall issue a written order specifying the evidentiary facts within the personal knowledge of the judge as to the conduct constituting the contempt and the identity of the condemnor. Thereafter, the proceeding shall be conducted])]” See Usiak v. State, 413 Md. 384, 402, 396 , 993 A.2d 39, 50, 46 (2010) (holding that “[t]he length of ³⁹ time the court may defer [the imposition of] sanctions [for direct contempt], however, is de minimus and typically should be no later than the end of the proceedings,” but if sanctions are not imposed summarily, “it shall, ‘reasonably promptly after the contemptuous conduct issue a written order specifying the evidentiary facts [in support] ...’”) Additionally, the record is insufficient to prove that Petitioner acted willfully, as required in a finding of direct criminal contempt, when he tore up his copy of the court documents. According to the record, the trial judge had already moved on to another matter, Petitioner was sitting next to the exit door in the courtroom, and he did not act out in a “violent” manner or direct his actions toward the court or the presiding judge. One act made in exasperation or agitation that does not disrespect the presiding judge or deliberately interrupt proceedings is not contemptuous or an obstruction to the administration of justice.

Under the circumstances of the present case, the record is insufficient to support a finding of direct criminal contempt. 6 IV. Retaliation The second issue requires us to consider whether a threat must be communicated to the intended victim or witness within the meaning of Md.Crim. Law Art. § 9-303(a). We shall hold that § 9-303(a) does not require that a threat be communicated to the witness or victim, or with the belief that the threat would be communicated to the witness or victim, because the elements of the crime include only (1) the making ⁴⁰ of a threat, and (2) intent to retaliate against a witness or victim.

Section 9-303(a) prohibits retaliation against witnesses or victims of crimes who testify about or report criminal activity. The statute provides that “[a] person may not intentionally harm another, threaten to harm another, or damage or destroy property with the intent of retaliating against a victim or witness for: (1) giving testimony in an official proceeding; or (2) reporting a crime or delinquent act.” (Emphasis added). Petitioner would have us interpret “threaten to harm” to mean “relaying a threat directly to the victim or witness.” On the other hand, Respondent argues that the statute does not require that a threat be communicated to the victim or witness because the plain language of the statute says nothing about who receives the threat. According to Respondent, by arguing that the threat must be communicated to the victim or witness, Petitioner reads an additional element into § 9-303(a).

At the outset, it is important to note the general principle of criminal law that ordinarily “a crime consists of both a physical part and a mental part; that is, both an act or omission ... and a state of mind.” Wayne R. LaFave, Criminal Law § 5.1(a), at 253 (5th ed.2010). Here, the criminal statute unambiguously proscribes both an actus reus and a mens rea. As relevant to this case, the prohibited action is the making of a threat to harm another, and the requisite mental state is “the intent of retaliating against a witness or victim.” Against the backdrop of this general principle, we begin our analysis of the statute. “The cardinal rule of statutory interpretation is to ascertain and effectuate the intent of the legislature ---- beginning] with the plain language of the statute, and ordinary, popular understanding of the English language.” Briggs v. State, 413 Md. 265, 274-75 , 992 A.2d 433, 439 (2010) (citations and quotations omitted). ‘When the language of the statute is subject to more than one interpretation, it is ambiguous and we usually look beyond the statutory language to the ⁴¹ statute’s legislative history, prior case law, the statutory purpose, and the statutory structure as aids in ascertaining the Legislature’s intent.” Briggs, 413 Md. at 275 , 992 A.2d at 439 . Moreover, as this Court has stated: While penal statutes are to be strictly construed against the State and in favor of the defendant, so that only punishment contemplated by the words of the statute is meted out, the construction to be given a statute must depend upon discerning the intention of the Legislature when it drafted and enacted it.

This requires reading and interpreting the entire statute, neither adding, nor deleting, words in order to give it a meaning not otherwise evident by the words actually used. Moreover, construction requires that the statute be given a reasonable interpretation, not one that is illogical or incompatible with common sense. Harris v. State, 331 Md. 137, 145 , 626 A.2d 946, 950 (1993) (citations omitted). We begin by examining the express language of the statute.

The statute provides in pertinent part: “[a] person may not intentionally ... threaten to harm another ... with the intent of retaliating against a victim or witness.... ” The statute does not include a definition of “threaten” or “threat.” Therefore, we look to its plain meaning. Black’s Law Dictionary defines “threat” as “a communicated intent to inflict harm or loss on another or on another’s property, especially] one that might diminish a person’s freedom to act voluntarily or with lawful consent.” Black’s Law Dictionary 1519 (8th ed. 2004). In addition, Webster’s Dictionary defines “threat” as “[a]n expression of an intention to inflict something harmful[;]” and “threaten” as “to express a threat against[;] to serve as a threat to[;] to give signs or warning off;] to announce as possible.” Webster’s II New College Dictionary 1176 (3d ed. 2005). None of these definitions indicate who must hear the statement or to whom the statement must be directed in order for an expression to fall within the definition of “threat,” so long as the statement or expression evidences an intent to inflict harm. ⁴² This Court addressed the definition of “threat” in the context of a threat to commit arson, proscribed by Md.Crim.

Law Art. § 6-107, in Moosavi v. State, 355 Md. 651 , 736 A.2d 285 (1999). In that case, an angry bank customer told a bank customer service representative by telephone that he was “going to blow up the bank.” The Court defined “threat” as “a ‘communicated intent to inflict’ harm” and concluded that the defendant’s statement, “I’m going to blow up the bank,” “suggests an intention or desire to inflict harm, i.e., a threat.” 355 Md. at 664-65 , 736 A.2d at 292 (citing Black’s Law Dictionary 1480 (6th ed. 1990)). In another context, the Court of Special Appeals has defined “threat” as “an expression of a determination or intent to injure presently or in the future.” Abbott v. State, 190 Md.App. 595, 619 , 989 A.2d 795, 809 (2010) (citations and quotations omitted) (discussing whether the defendant’s email to Governor O’Malley sent via the Office of the Governor’s website constituted a “true threat” and a violation of Md.Crim. Law Art. § 3-708(b), threatening a state official).

It is also noteworthy that the Court of Special Appeals, in construing what is a “threat” in Abbott , stated that a “statement may be a threat even if it was never communicated to the intended recipient.” 190 Md.App. at 621 , 989 A.2d at 810 . Although this Court has not had prior occasion to construe this portion of § 9-303, the Court of Special Appeals addressed the interpretation of this statute in Parker v. State, 189 Md.App. 474 , 985 A.2d 72 (2009). Discussing the constitutionality of § 9-303(a), the intermediate appellate court noted that “the statute ... is sufficiently clear that there is no need to look beyond its language to understand its meaning.... The words ‘threaten to harm’ are unambiguous____[a]nd the operative phrase ‘threaten to harm another’ has a common and generally accepted meaning.” Parker, 189 Md.App. at 484-85 , 985 A.2d at 78 (citation and quotation omitted).

The retaliatory threat at issue in Parker was communicated directly to the witness, but conveyed an intent to harm the witness’s family rather than the witness himself. In that case, the defendant and the mother of defendant’s child were arrested on drug charges and tried separately. After the mother’s trial, the ⁴³ defendant approached the detective, who had testified against the mother, directly outside the courthouse and stated, “[n]ow that you fucked with my family, I’ll be fucking with yours.” Parker, 189 Md.App. at 479 , 985 A.2d at 75 . The Court of Special Appeals held that a person of ordinary intelligence would know that the statement threatening the family of the witness “would be viewed as conduct threatening harm in retaliation for the witness’s participation in the proceeding” and therefore the statute is constitutional.

Parker, 189 Md.App. at 485 , 985 A.2d at 78 . Additionally, in discussing the defendant’s challenge as to sufficiency of the evidence, the intermediate appellate court determined that the statute only requires proof of (1) an intentional threat of harm to another, and (2) that defendant made the threat with the intent to retaliate against a witness. Parker, 189 Md.App. at 486-87 , 985 A.2d at 79 . Finally, the court concluded that the statute does not require a threat of physical harm....

Nor does the statute require proof that the party making the threat had an actual intent to commit the harm to another. The critical element is the threat of harm, intentionally communicated to the witness for the purpose of retaliating against the witness. Parker, 189 Md.App. at 487 , 985 A.2d at 79 (emphasis in original). The parties in this case dispute the meaning of this last sentence, regarding the “critical element.” Petitioner argues that Parker stands for the proposition that the “critical element [of § 9-303(a) ] is the threat of harm, intentionally communicated to the witness for the purpose of retaliation].” 189 Md.App. at 487 , 985 A.2d at 79 .

Respondent asserts that Petitioner misreads Parker , and that Parker does not require that the threat be made directly to or heard by the witness, but rather the facts in that case involved a threat of harm to the witness’s family made directly to the witness. We agree with Respondent. The Court of Special Appeals expressly stated the elements of the crime as they are found in the statute, namely, an intentional threat of harm to another and the intent to retaliate against a witness. Requiring communication to a witness would constitute an additional ⁴⁴ element which is not present in the statute.

Just as the Court of Special Appeals refused to read a requirement of proof of intent to commit the harm into the statute, the court did not read an additional communication requirement into the statute, but merely applied the statute to the facts of that case. Thus, the plain meaning of the statute does not contain a requirement of actual communication of the threat to the witness or victim, or with the belief that the threat would be communicated to the witness or victim. In addition, neither dictionary definitions of “threat” and “threaten,” nor prior definitions of “threat” adopted by this Court indicate that the “expression” must be directed at or heard by a particular recipient. Therefore, we will not “add[ ] ... words in order to give it a meaning not otherwise evident by the words actually used” or otherwise read such a limitation into the statute.

Harris, 331 Md. at 145 , 626 A.2d at 950 . We next look to the legislative history of § 9-303(a). Even if the plain meaning is clear and unambiguous, we often look to legislative intent and purpose to determine if they ratify our analysis and interpretation of a statute. “In other words, the resort to legislative history is a confirmatory process; it is not undertaken to contradict the plain meaning of the statute.” Mayor of Baltimore v. Chase, 360 Md. 121, 131 , 756 A.2d 987, 993 (2000). Section 9-303 was originally enacted in 1993, along with Md.Crim.

Law Art. § 9-302, which prohibits witness intimidation. Senate Bill (S.B.) 261, ch. 223 Acts of 1993. This Court previously addressed the purpose and history of the original statute in Tracy v. State, 423 Md. 1 , 31 A.3d 160 (2011). In that case, we quoted from the legislative history the testimony of Hon.

Alexander Williams, then State’s Attorney for Prince George’s County (now a federal district court judge), in favor of the bill. He