OC Today-Dispatch FEBRUARY 28, 2025
STUBBORNLY LOCAL, EQUALLY INDEPENDENT
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PRICELESS
Mailloux pleads guilty in hit-and-run Takes deal during motions hearing in Worcester court Bethany Hooper Associate Editor (Feb. 28, 2025) The motorist charged in the 2022 death of Gavin Knupp entered a guilty
plea this week to one felony count. During a motions hearing held in Worcester County Circuit Court Tuesday, a plea deal
was reached between the state’s attorney’s office and Tyler Mailloux, 24, the Berlin man charged in the 2022 death of 14-year-old Knupp. Mailloux pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident
where a driver “knew/reasonably knew accident must result in death and death occurred,” according to the Maryland Transportation Code. Sentencing was deferred to See MAILLOUX Page 22
Tawdry T-shirts targeted City Council wants to clean up obscene merchandise on display at the Boardwalk — PAGE 3
BRIAN SHANE/OC TODAY-DISPATCH
THIS IS GETTING OLD Motorists, like the one pictured above, contend with lane changes as maintenance work continues on the Route 50 Bridge.
AGH, Tidal look to merge May 1 After months of work led to their December announcement of an intent to merge, the two hospital systems serving this area are pushing toward a May 1 deadline to make it happen. — PAGE 53
BRIAN SHANE/ OC TODAY-DISPATCH
One of the tamer shirts on display.
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OC Today-Dispatch
FEBRUARY 28, 2025
Now Open for the 2025 Season!
FEBRUARY 28, 2025
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OC Today-Dispatch
BRIAN SHANE/OC TODAY-DISPATCH
Though most of the Boardwalk stores were closed this week, outdoor displays advertising merchandise available for sale were posted in front of at least one business.
Council looking to regulate obscene Boardwalk content By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor (Feb. 28, 2025) In an effort to clean up the Boardwalk, city officials this week directed staff to develop an ordinance to shield minors from obscene, vulgar, sexually explicit and profane merchandise and displays found along the storefronts. On Tuesday, the Ocean City Council voted to advance a proposed ordinance aimed at protecting minors from what is viewed as obscene and vulgar materials that are displayed on the Boardwalk. City Solicitor Heather Stansbury said the legislation’s goal is to restrict such displays while protecting a business owner’s First Amendment rights. For decades, Ocean City has struggled with retail stores displaying inappropriate T-shirts along the Boardwalk. Casual efforts have been made to encourage the store operators to push the vulgar apparel off the boards with varying, short-term success. “What we’re trying to do is walk this very fine line of honoring and respecting a business, a merchant’s right to run their business and exercise free speech, while protecting our most vulnerable residents and visitors, which are the children …,” she said. “We’re trying to strike that balance, and what we’re proposing we think does strike that balance.” Stansbury said that for years, the city has received complaints of obscene or vulgar merchant displays along the Boardwalk. She also held up a packet of what she estimated to be more than 100 emails the city had
collected on the topic over the last couple of years. “I know the mayor’s been contacted. I know many of you have contacted me, I know the city manager has been contacted,” she said. “And it seems as though every summer you are getting a barrage of complaints from residents and visitors offended by the type of merchandise that can be viewed primarily from the Boardwalk.” Stansbury said examples of this merchandise included T-shirts depicting certain sexual acts and Tshirts with sayings such as “I heart DILFS” and “Don’t be a salty [expletive deleted].” She also included pictures of those items displayed outdoors. “All of these are merchandise that can be viewed without entering the premises,” she said. To that end, staff worked with the city solicitor to review the city code and charter, which acknowledges that the Mayor and City Council can police obscenity or public profanity, as well as prohibit any outdoor display that promotes alcohol, cannabis, illegal drugs, tobacco, weapons, offensive adult materials and obscenity, to name a few. “Obscenity is not protected speech,” she said. “The Supreme Court’s been very clear about that. It is difficult sometimes to discern what obscenity is, but it does have to appeal to the common decency and the culture of the community. I think those emails, coupled with what I’m sure will be a lively discussion by all See CITY Page 10
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