Police say Miss Maryland 2016, Hannah Brewer was the target of a stalker. Valencio Fernandes Pires, 51, of Germantown, was arrested on Friday, Aug. 19. (Photo: The official Facebook page of Miss Maryland 2016, Hannah Brewer, @MissAmericaMD)
WESTMINSTER, Md. (Aug. 22, 2016)—Maryland State Police arrested and charged a Montgomery County man for the harassment of Miss Maryland.
The accused is identified as Valencio Fernandes Pires, 51, of Germantown, Maryland. Pires was arrested at his home without incident on Friday, August 19, 2016. He is charged with harassment, stalking, and electronic mail harassment. He is currently being held without bond at the Carroll County Detention Center.
The victim is identified as Hannah Brewer, 19, of Carroll County. She currently holds the title of Miss Maryland.
On August 19, 2016, Brewer filed a report with the Maryland State Police Westminster Barrack. She informed police she had been receiving frightening and unwanted contact from Pires.
Police believe Pires initially contacted Brewer in person at a planned Miss Maryland event in Hagerstown on Monday, August 15, 2016. Pires can be seen in two photographs at the Hagerstown event, intently and intensely staring at Brewer. Police believe Pires had also used social media and emails to attempt communication with her multiple times, even after requests were made for him to stop.
State police investigators and the Brewer family consulted with the lead Special Victims' Unit Attorney of the Carroll County State's Attorney's Office. A peace order and an ex parte of communication order were requested from and granted by the Carroll County Commissioner's Office. An arrest warrant was also issued.
Brewer does not wish to receive media contact on this matter and is instead focused on preparing for the upcoming Miss America pageant.