LEXINGTON PARK, Md. — A routine traffic enforcement stop led to drug-related charges for a Lexington Park woman after deputies discovered suspected cocaine and paraphernalia, along with two active arrest warrants.
According to court documents, on April 18 at approximately 10:10 a.m., Deputy J. Senatore of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office was conducting proactive patrols near Pegg Road and Midway Drive when he observed a silver Toyota Tacoma with Virginia plates. The vehicle was known from prior law enforcement interactions involving criminal activity. A license plate check revealed the tags were registered to a 2006 Mercedes-Benz, indicating the plates were unlawfully placed on an unregistered vehicle.
Upon initiating a traffic stop at Three Notch Road and Expedition Drive, the Tacoma proceeded slowly for about 1,000 feet before stopping in a parking lot off Three Notch Road. Deputy Senatore approached the vehicle and made contact with the driver, identified as Richard Lester Maples, 61, of Mechanicsville, Maryland, and the passenger, Pamela Lynn Leonard, 57, of Lexington Park, Maryland.
After confirming Leonard’s identity via Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration records, Deputy Senatore discovered Leonard had two active warrants—one from St. Mary’s County and one from Calvert County. While deputies awaited official confirmation of the warrants, they attempted to access the vehicle identification number (VIN), which was partially obstructed by debris and trash inside the vehicle.
Upon opening the driver’s door to clearly view the VIN, Deputy Senatore observed two glass smoking devices, recognized through training as crack pipes, located openly on the floorboard near the driver’s seat. Both devices contained visible cocaine residue. As a result, both occupants were removed from the vehicle and detained for further investigation.
Subsequent searches of the Tacoma uncovered additional illicit substances and paraphernalia. A rubber container concealed within Leonard’s purse held a third glass smoking device heavily coated with cocaine residue. Another rubber container in the same purse was found to hold two small pieces of crack cocaine. During a personal search of Leonard, deputies located a gum wrapper folded around an off-brown powdery substance, consistent with powdered cocaine.
Leonard was placed under arrest and transported to the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center. She faces charges including possession of cocaine (CDS: Possess – Not Cannabis), a misdemeanor punishable by up to four years in jail and a $5,000 fine, as well as possession of drug paraphernalia, carrying a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $500 fine. Leonard was subsequently released on an unsecured personal bond of $3,000.
Leonard is represented by the St. Mary’s County Public Defender’s Office. Her trial date is set for June 17, 2025, in St. Mary’s District Court.
The driver, Richard Lester Maples, was issued multiple traffic citations stemming from the incident, including knowingly driving an uninsured vehicle. Maples’ separate court proceedings are scheduled for June 27, 2025, also in St. Mary’s District Court.
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Two jailbirds with one stone !