Yet another criminal has received a reduced sentence for his role in a shooting over the summer in Ocean City.

Late last month, we reported that 18-year-old Tarik R. Purcell (above left) was convicted of illegally firing a rifle into the air in Ocean City, but the Judge stepped in and decided to reduce his sentence. His accomplice, Christopher M. Thomas (above right), age 20 from Baltimore, just received his sentence as well and it is just as ridiculous. Back in mid-June, Ocean City Police received a 911 call that there were shots fired in the vicinity of Wicomico Street and Baltimore Avenue. Callers told the dispatcher that there was at least one man with a rifle firing into the air. Witnesses were able to describe both of the suspects and their getaway vehicle. As luck would have it, there happened to be a Ocean City Police Narcotics Unit on patrol in the area where the shots were reported. These officers were able to quickly locate and pull over the suspects’ vehicle. Even though prosecutors could have thrown the book at him and sought charges to put him away for upwards of a decade, Purcell was only sentenced to three years for firing a rifle indiscriminately into the air in the area of Wicomico Street and Baltimore Avenue. But the Judge decided that that was too much and suspended all but six months of his sentence. Well, Purcell's accomplice, Christopher M. Thomas, is being let off the hook as well. Thomas was a prohibited person -- meaning he was not legally allowed to own or possess a firearm -- and should have faced decades in prison for his role in the crime. He was originally charged with illegal possession of a firearm by an underage individual, illegal possession of a handgun, illegal possession of a handgun in a vehicle, illegal possession of a regulated firearm, reckless endangerment, discharging a firearm within city limits, and second degree assault. In early December, however, Christopher M. Thomas pled guilty to one count of second degree assault and illegal possession of a firearm. He was sentenced to five years behind bars for these two crimes but, yet again, the Judge stepped in and suspended all but one year of his sentence. Look at all those gun crimes. Multiple counts of illegal firearm possession, illegally carrying a regulated firearm, and even illegally discharging said firearm. And yet, the prosecutors decide to accept a plea deal that drops most of those charges. Then, the judge stepped in and ensured that Christopher M. Thomas would get nothing but a slap on the wrist. It is absolutely pathetic that if Thomas and Purcell both spend their time behind bars on their best behavior, they could be out on parole in time to enjoy next year's Ocean City tourist season. This is really getting out of hand. I can understand dealing with drunk partiers in Ocean City. But there is no way in hell Ocean City can be a family vacation spot if criminals bring guns from Baltimore, shoot them indiscriminately into the air, and get off with practically no prison time. Honestly, at this point, why even arrest people on gun crimes in Ocean City if prosecutors will drop charges to accept plea deals and judges will then step in to reduce the sentences? 18-year-old John Kisesewa was arrested for dealing cocaine and illegally possessing and carrying a firearm with a defaced serial number. Not only was he legally too young to possess a handgun in Maryland, but he certainly didn't have a license to carry it and was also using it in the commission of a felony. Instead of facing all of the charges, he took a plead deal that carried eight years behind bars. The judge in the case suspended all but two years of his sentence. Then there was the case of Ibrahima Diallo who was arrested last summer after he accidentally shot himself in the leg with an illegal handgun. Being 18 years old, Diallo wasn't legally allowed to own a handgun under Maryland law and it certainly wasn't registered. After he shot himself, he told police that he threw the gun onto the beach to hide it. Officers never found the pistol. Prosecutors decided not to move forward with the illegal gun charges against him. Apparently, a self-inflicted gunshot wound and admitting to hiding a gun on the beach to police isn't enough these days... Add in Tarik R. Purcell and Christopher M. Thomas and that sets the count at four. There have been four Ocean City gun crimes, three of which included shots fired in public, that were either dropped by prosecutors or saw judges suspend the criminals' sentences. Listen, I can understand suspending the sentence for 20-something who got too drunk and ended up urinating on a police car. As disgusting as it was, I can even understand the decision to go easy on the man who got so drunk, he decided to fling his own excrement at people passing by on the sidewalk. But there is absolutely NO reason to drop gun crimes, especially when the crimes involved shots fired on Ocean City streets and hiding firearms from police on the beach, where they could easily be found by children. It is becoming a lot harder to classify Ocean City as a family resort...

Click here to read more about the illegal gun-toting cocaine dealer who had his sentence suspended.