Leonardtown, MD — A man charged with the January 19th armed robbery of the Race-N-Inn store in Budd’s Creek has been sentenced to 10 years in jail after pleading guilty to the charge. St. Mary’s County Circuit Court Judge Michael Stamm on October 20th sentenced Adam Gonzalez, 28, to two 20 year sentences, but suspended half of the sentences and made the two concurrent. Gonzalez was on active duty at Andrews Air Force Base at the time of the crime.
n addition to pleading guilty to Armed Robbery Gonzalez also pled guilty on August 15th to First Degree Assault.
According to police reports at the time of the offense, a lookout was broadcast for a getaway car that was located on Route 301 in La Plata a short time later. A handgun was found in the car. Gonzalez was arrested without incident.
After Gonzalez’ arrest for the Budd’s Creek armed robbery, detectives in Calvert County noted a similarity between the getaway car in that incident and an armed robbery of a 7-11 in Dunkirk in November of last year. Gonzalez was subsequently charged with that offense as well.
On October 10th Gonzalez was sentenced in Calvert County Circuit Court to 20 years in jail and all but eight years was suspended. Judge Stamm made his sentence concurrent with the Calvert sentence, so Gonzalez will service a total of 10 years in the Maryland Division of Corrections. There may also be a case from Virginia hanging over Gonzalez.
Gonzalez was represented at the sentencings in both counties by Hyattsville attorney Lonny Bramzon.
At sentencing before Judge Stamm, Gonzalez said, “I offer my sincere apologies.” The judge noted the tragedy of the situation in that Gonzalez had no criminal record prior to his crime spree.
Gonzalez will have to spend a minimum of five years in jail before being eligible for parole. After he is released from jail Gonzalez will be on five years’ probation and will have to pay $1,700 restitution in the St. Mary’s case. He was given credit for the time he has already served since January 21st.