Former Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Sentenced to Life Plus 30 Years for Sexually Assaulting Women While on Duty

A 33-year-old Salisbury man and former deputy with the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office has been sentenced for sex crimes committed while in office. Today, the Honorable S. James Sarbanes, Administrative Judge of the Circuit Court for Wicomico County, sentenced Steven Victor Abreu, to serve life in prison, with a consecutive thirty years, for multiple counts of rape in the first and second degree, sexual offense in the third and fourth degree, misconduct in office, false imprisonment, and unlawful sexual conduct by a law enforcement officer. Abreu was convicted by a Wicomico County jury following a five-day trial in December of 2024. Abreu’s crimes came to light in October of 2022, when a woman reported that he had detained her in a parking lot and sexually assaulted her while in uniform.

Steven Victor Abreu

Additional Information from the Office of the State’s Attorney for Wicomico County

Investigation revealed additional crimes – in one case, Abreu offered a ride to a
woman in his patrol vehicle before sexually assaulting her, and in another, he returned to the home of a woman he had interacted with during a call for service earlier that day and, under the guise of providing her with a victim information pamphlet, sexually assaulted her. A fourth woman was stopped by Abreu while driving home, but was able to escape when a neighbor approached and asked if everything was okay.

State’s Attorney Jamie Dykes said “Steven Abreu used his position as a law enforcement officer to isolate and sexually assault women while he was on duty. He betrayed his oath and his responsibility to the people of this community and to all those who serve by wearing the badge. We are grateful that the sentence imposed today recognizes the severity of Abreu’s criminal conduct and the permanent impact it has had on our County and particularly on the lives of his victims.”

State’s Attorney Dykes commended Corporal Christine Kirkpatrick of the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office for her diligent work leading the investigation into Mr. Abreu’s crimes, as well as Senior Assistant State’s Attorneys Patrick Gilbert and Lauren Bourdon, who prosecuted the case. State’s Attorney Dykes also expressed her gratitude to the victims for their courage and strength in coming forward and cooperating with investigators to bring Abreu to justice.