Man Charged With Stalking, Harassing Miss Maryland

WESTMINSTER, Md. (AP) -- Maryland State Police arrested a man they say stalked and harassed Miss Maryland.

The agency said in a news release Monday that 19-year-old Hannah Brewer of Manchester filed a report Friday. Troopers say she had been receiving frightening and unwanted contact from 51-year-old Valencio Fernandes Pires of Germantown.

Police say Pires had first contacted Brewer at a Miss Maryland event in Hagerstown on Aug. 15. Authorities say Pires also tried to contact Brewer through email and social media, even after he was asked to stop.

Troopers arrested Pires at his home on Friday. He is charged with harassment, stalking and electronic mail harassment and is being held without bond.

The Office of the Public Defender in Carroll County says a lawyer has not been assigned yet to Pires.