Alleged False Burglary Report Unravels: Lexington Park Woman Charged After Ex-Partner Cleared

LEXINGTON PARK, Md. — A reported evening burglary involving a detached garage, a missing speaker, and accusations against an ex-boyfriend has unraveled into a criminal charge against the reporting party herself, after investigators say surveillance footage and witness statements contradicted her account. Cynthia Anitia Johnson, 51, of Lexington Park, now faces a charge of making false statements to a law enforcement officer, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for Feb. 13, 2026.

According to charging documents, on Dec. 3, 2025, Johnson contacted law enforcement to report a breaking and entering at her garage. She allegedly told officers she heard loud banging, looked out her living room window, and observed a white vehicle parked in front of her detached garage. Johnson further stated that the garage door was open, the light was on, and she saw her ex-boyfriend exit the vehicle, re-enter it, and drive away. She reported missing legal documents, missing property belonging to her ex-boyfriend, and damage to the garage door.

According to police reports, during the investigation, law enforcement obtained Ring camera footage from surrounding residences. Investigators say the videos showed an individual wearing a white sweatshirt, dark-colored pants, and pink shoes approaching the garage on foot, looking around, and leaving. That same individual later returned again to look around the garage on foot, and in a third video, a white vehicle drove up to the garage with four male individuals inside. In subsequent footage, a white vehicle is seen backing up to the garage while three of the four individuals walk toward the garage and later return to the vehicle carrying what appeared to be a large speaker before leaving the area.

According to police statements, police made contact with Johnson’s ex-boyfriend, who allegedly stated he was home playing video games at the time of the incident. Investigators reported that multiple individuals corroborated his account. Authorities also noted that he did not own or drive the make and model of the vehicle shown in the Ring footage. The ex-boyfriend denied involvement in the incident, police said.

On Dec. 7, 2025, police investigative documents show law enforcement located the white vehicle believed to be associated with the incident. Two days later, on Dec. 9, officers contacted the vehicle’s owner, who was advised of and allegedly waived his Miranda rights. According to police, the vehicle owner stated that a friend purportedly received a phone call on Dec. 3, 2025, from Johnson claiming she had seen her ex-boyfriend near her garage and that he had broken into it. The group of men reportedly went to Johnson’s residence and broke the lock off the garage to check for a possible bomb. According to police, the individuals stated they were told by Johnson that they could take items from the garage.

During the investigation, these individuals were asked by law enforcement what Johnson was wearing that night. A witness allegedly described a white long-sleeve shirt and blue jeans, clothing investigators say was consistent with the individual seen in the Ring footage. Police subsequently interviewed the other individuals visible in the videos. Authorities reported their statements were similar and included claims that Johnson told them they could take items from the garage.

Investigators noted that in Johnson’s initial statement to police, she did not mention the presence of the four individuals or acknowledge that they had entered the garage. Officers also reported that the Ring camera footage did not show Johnson’s ex-boyfriend or his vehicle at any point during the incident.

In investigative documents, when questioned a second time, Johnson allegedly changed aspects of her account. She stated that she noticed the garage light was on, went to investigate, and found that the lock had been changed and she did not know the combination. She later claimed that while leaving for Bible study, she returned to the garage and noticed the lock was missing and the speaker was gone.

Johnson further alleged she saw her ex-boyfriend’s car from a second-story living room window, despite telling officers it was dark and there were no lights on. She stated she went to the garage after the car left and discovered the garage open with the light on and her paperwork and speaker missing. When asked whether she had contacted anyone else to come to the residence, Johnson allegedly stated she had not and said she waited approximately 30 minutes before calling the nonemergency line. Officers reported that other individuals in the residence stated they also saw the white vehicle and said Johnson had contacted people to come over.

According to court documents, police later re-contacted Johnson and asked whether anyone else had come to the residence. She allegedly then stated that individuals had come over, including one person she identified as her ex-boyfriend’s cousin, claiming he came to retrieve the speaker. When asked whether she told them they could take items from the garage, Johnson allegedly denied doing so. Investigators reported that when asked why she did not initially disclose the involvement of the four individuals, Johnson stated she believed it was her ex-boyfriend and that she was scared for her life.

According to police, Johnson later stated that her ex-boyfriend’s cousin took the speaker. When asked whether her statement about seeing her ex-boyfriend at the garage was false, Johnson allegedly indicated it was not accurate. She continued to deny telling others they could take property from the garage. Johnson was subsequently advised of her Miranda rights.

Johnson has been charged with making false statements to a law enforcement officer. A summons was issued on Dec. 27, 2025. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 13, 2026. False statement charges are generally classified as misdemeanors and can carry penalties of up to one year of incarceration and/or fines upon conviction.

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