LAW AND DISORDER
The following crime investigations occurred in St. Mary’s County, Maryland. The names have not been changed; the outcomes of arrests are reported in this column occasionally following court actions. All persons found guilty are no longer innocent of the charges placed against them.
THE CHARGES: BURGLAR JOHN PANKAKE CLEANED OUT THE ICE CREAM SANDWICHES WHEN CAUGHT NAPPING ON A TABLE IN MECHANICSVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Burglary – Police say that after busting up a lot of computer equipment and other supplies, as well as eating a case of ice cream sandwiches, this cat burglar decided to take a catnap. According to St. Mary’s Sheriff Tim Cameron, on January 20, 2019, DFC. Lawrence responded to the Mechanicsville Elementary School located on Three Notch Road in Mechanicsville for the reported burglar alarm.
Police say that while searching the exterior of the school, a male was observed through a window asleep on a table in a classroom. The individual was later identified as John Andrew Pankake, 37, of 36965 Tanyard Drive, Mechanicsville, Md. While checking the school, numerous computer screens and other supplies had been destroyed, and a case of ice cream sandwiches from the cafeteria had been consumed. Pankake was charged with Burglary 2nd & 4th Degree, Theft, and Malicious Destruction of Property.
THE OUTCOME: At this point, Pankake has been provided a free attorney, paid for by the taxpayers, Rais Jaleel Akbar, of the public defender’s office in Leonardtown. Naturally, as this is the Alice in Wonderland Maryland Judiciary, the court rules allowed the accused burglar, who gobbled up all of the ice cream sandwiches intended for the children, to be set free on unsecured bond. A new hearing is set for March 22, 2019.
THE CHARGES: Possession of whacky tobaccy more than 10 grams, two scales, and edible THC; will he flip to avoid distribution charges?
Drug Arrest– St. Mary’s County Sheriff Tim Cameron reports that on February 9, 2019, Dep. Forbes responded to the 21400 block of Manon Way in Lexington Park, Md., for the reported suspicious vehicle. Dep. Forbes located the vehicle and made contact with the operator Franklin Lee Russell, 22, of Lexington Park. Russell was observed moving something under the seat of his car; Dep. Forbes recognized the odor of marijuana emitting from Russell’s vehicle. A search of the vehicle yielded a backpack containing packages of suspected marijuana, two scales, and edible suspected THC.
Russell was arrested and charged with CDS-Possession: Marijuana Greater than 10 Grams, and CDS-Possession: Paraphernalia. Additional charges pending a review with the States Attorney. Typically, the evidence allegedly found in Russell’s vehicle would indicate that he is engaged in the distribution of drugs, however, if he rats out someone else for dealing drugs, charges may never appear. Apparently, he flunked the D.A.R.E. class.
THE OUTCOME: To be determined.
LENGFIELD WALKS OUT OF THE LIQUOR STORE, AGAIN, AGAIN, AND AGAIN…just an undocumented shopper…
Theft- ST. MARY’S SHERIFF TIM CAMERON, REPORTED THAT On December 11, 2019, Dep. Rycyzyn responded to the 17400 block of Piney Point Road in Piney Point for the reported theft. The investigation determined Zachary Kenneth Lengfield, 26, of Piney Point, entered the establishment, retrieved a bottle of liquor, and passed all points of sale without purchasing the item. An employee followed Lengfield outside and ultimately retrieved the item from Lengfield. Lengfield then proceeded into another establishment and removed a bottle of wine from behind the bar, and again passed all points of sale without purchasing the item. Lengfield was located on the scene, arrested, and charged with two counts of Theft.
On December 13, 2019, Dep. Graves responded to the St. Mary’s County JAIL in Leonardtown and charged Lengfield with an additional two counts of Theft for similar actions on December 10, 2019, where he again entered the establishment on two separate occasions and removed alcoholic beverages and passed all points of sale without paying for the items.
Throwing punches in the slammer
Assault- On August 12, 2022, Dep. Walker responded to the St. Mary’s County Jail, in Leonardtown for the reported assault. The investigation determined Zachary Kenneth Lengfield, 28, of Piney Point, assaulted the victim by punching the victim in the face. Lengfield was charged with Assault 2nd Degree.
CHARGES: DWI – Another in a long list of drunk driving arrests may finally land Zachary Lengfield in the slammer for a year
2/6/19 – Zachary Kenneth Lengfield, 25, of Piney Point, Md. It’s back to the lawyer again for a veteran DUI driver. St. Mary’s Sheriff Tim Cameron reports that DFC. Davis responded to the 16500 block of Piney Point Road in Piney Point regarding a disturbance inside a vehicle. DFC. Davis located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle after observing a traffic infraction. The operator of the vehicle was identified as Zachary Kenneth Lengfield. Deputy John Davis determined Lengfield to be operating the vehicle under the influence of alcohol. Lengfield was arrested and charged with Driving Vehicle Under the Influence of Alcohol and Driving Vehicle While Impaired by Alcohol. Lengfield is represented by Leonardtown attorney Kevin J. McDevitt, known as the Gunslinger Lawyer.
• Zachary Kenneth Lengfield, 22, of Piney Point, Md., was charged with DUI on 1/10/16 by S/Tpr. E. M. Evans; Lengfield was arrested at 12:15 am on Rt. 5 at Potato Hill Farm Lane.
• Lengfield was arrested for DUI on Oct. 17, 2015, by St. Mary’s Sheriff’s Deputy David Corcoran. In the District Court of St. Mary’s on Feb. 3, 2016, St. Mary’s States Attorney Richard Fritz agreed to a plea deal for Lengfield, represented by attorney Kevin J. McDevitt, that allowed Lengfield to escape any jail time and simply pay a fine of $484.50 with $300 of the fine suspended. This plea deal was approved by Fritz in spite of the fact that Lengfield had been arrested again for the same charge three weeks earlier. To compound the injury to the public, Fritz agreed to let Lengfield plead guilty to the lesser charge of reckless driving, meaning the DUI charge won’t be counted against his record for the current arrest.
• On Dec. 15, 2013, Lengfield, of 17306 Potomac Sands Drive, in Piney Point, was charged with DUI by St. Mary’s Sheriff’s Deputy Keith Moritz when he was stopped at 5:31 am on Rt. 249 at Tall Timbers Road. In District Court on March 12, 2014, Lengfield was represented by attorney McDevitt who won him a judgment of acquittal after he entered a plea of not guilty. He was found guilty of speeding and failing to drive right of center and paid fines of $64 for each ticket.
• Lengfield was charged with possession of paraphernalia and marijuana on May 24, 2012, by St. Mary’s Sheriff’s Deputy Austin Schultz. On May 24, 2012, with attorney McDevitt representing him, States Attorney Fritz dropped both charges. No fine, no time.
• Lengfield was charged with DUI on March 10, 2012, by St. Mary’s Deputy Austin Schultz when stopped on Piney Point Road at Rt. 5 at 11:21 pm. In a plea deal with States Attorney Fritz and represented by attorney McDevitt, Lengfield got off with no jail time and a $250 fine when he entered a guilty plea.
Buzz's Marina says that Ken, Jen, Pete and Jen got these beautiful blues out on the Dream Maker with Capt. Mike on July 16, 2017
