Circuit Court Judge Sentences Annapolis Resident Following Guilty Plea in Connection With Carjacking Allegations

An Anne Arundel County Circuit Court judge has sentenced a 20 year old Annapolis resident who reportedly pleaded guilty in connection with recent carjacking allegations.

Related: Suspects Accused in Recent Annapolis Alleged Carjacking Held Without Bond

According to court records, Heriberto Romero entered a guilty plea yesterday to first-degree assault and a firearm related offense. Romero was sentenced to 25 years in prison, with all but 10 years suspended, followed by five years of supervised probation.

In a press release, officials with the Annapolis Police Department said the incident allegedly occurred on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at approximately 12:30 a.m. Officers responded to the intersection of Americana Drive and Norman Drive following reports of shots fired. Upon canvassing the area, officers reportedly located a single victim in the 1000 block of Bay Ridge Avenue.

The victim reported that he and a second, initially unaccounted-for victim were approached by a group of three individuals who allegedly brandished loaded firearms. Both victims were reportedly assaulted and forced into a black sedan. One victim was able to escape the vehicle and alert police.

Utilizing information provided by the victim, officers reportedly located the vehicle and the second victim just blocks away. Three suspects were immediately apprehended, and several weapons were recovered from the vehicle, according to police. Both victims , a 16-year-old male and an 18-year-old male, were unharmed and did not require medical attention.

The second victim was recovered safely, and all involved suspects were arrested and charged accordingly.

Two of the confirmed suspects were identified as Heriberto Flores-Romero and Manuel Abrego-Fernandez, a 19-year-old resident of Baltimore. Authorities have not yet publicly confirmed the identity of the third suspect.

A trial in the case against Manuel Abrego-Fernandez, who remains innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, was scheduled for March 10, 2026, but was cancelled, according to court records. New dates and other information was not immediately available.

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