LEXINGTON PARK, Md. — A man wanted on a bench warrant was arrested on July 13, 2025, after St. Mary’s County deputies stopped him riding a bicycle through Lexington Park with a pocketful of keys and a backpack of stolen merch from the Historic St. Mary’s City Commission.
According to court documents, William Adam Chesser, 46, of Lexington Park, was identified by law enforcement near the intersection of Three Notch Road and Poplar Ridge Road on July 13. He was known to deputies due to prior encounters and an active warrant for failure to appear in a separate protective order violation case.
Chesser was wearing a gray Historic St. Mary’s City T-shirt at the time of arrest. When deputies searched him, they found labeled sets of keys for multiple commission properties, including the Visitor Center, the Brome Howard Inn and other buildings associated with the organization. Authorities say several of the keys were marked with official tags and corresponded directly to access points for historic structures.
Also found on Chesser were a collection of items that investigators say were taken from staff offices and gift shop spaces: a commemorative coin, two gold-colored wedding bands, a silver bracelet engraved with family-themed text, multiple novelty flashlights and an envelope containing a stolen Visa card, a State of Maryland tax-exempt certificate and a Walmart exemption ID.
Among the lighter loot: unopened cans of soda, branded ball caps, chocolate bars, Gilliam candy sticks and Historic St. Mary’s City employee shirts not available for public sale. Victims later confirmed the exact coin, jewelry and IDs had been missing from secured areas. A key log found at the commission’s maintenance building reportedly matched every tag in Chesser’s possession.
Further inspection led authorities to confirm that a break-in had occurred sometime between July 11 and July 13 at two separate commission sites. At one location, investigators found lights left on in a key room and evidence of forced entry through a rear door. The total value of the keys, clothing and other stolen materials recovered or documented exceeded several hundred dollars, according to officials.
Court records indicate Chesser had previously been petitioned for emergency psychiatric evaluation in June 2025 following a domestic violence incident involving his parents. That encounter led to multiple charges of second-degree assault and a protective order barring him from their Lexington Park residence. Deputies allege Chesser later violated that order by reentering an outbuilding on the property, prompting additional criminal charges.
Chesser now faces a combined seven charges, including two counts of second-degree burglary, two counts of fourth-degree burglary, two counts of theft ranging from $100 to $1,500 and one count of theft under $100. A judge ordered him held without bond following a bail review hearing on July 15, 2025, overseen by Judge Karen Christy Holt Chesser.
Under Maryland law, second-degree burglary carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison per count. Fourth-degree burglary is a misdemeanor punishable by up to three years. Theft penalties vary depending on the amount stolen, with potential jail time and fines ranging up to $5,000.
The investigation remains ongoing, and further charges are possible pending forensic review of the recovered items.
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