Columbia Carjacker Guilty on 32 Counts: Jury

COLUMBIA, MD — A jury found a Columbia man guilty of 32 offenses connected to a series of carjackings last October.

Ledell Maxwell Padmore, 39, of the 12000 block of Green Meadow Drive, was convicted of armed robbery, kidnapping, assault, theft and related charges.

Two men and two women were victimized in the carjackings, which took place Oct. 6, 9,10 and 11, 2015.

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During the four-day trial, Padmore's attorney argued that there was no DNA evidence against his client, while prosecutors cited findings from a police search of his apartment, such as a purse, ATM card and wallet belonging to the victims, according to a report from the Howard County State's Attorney's Office, which said that Padmore said he found them in the grass.

"There’s a mountain of evidence against him,” Deputy State’s Attorney Kim Oldham told the jury. It was noted that the suspects wore gloves during the carjackings, so fingerprints were not available.

The wife of Padmore's partner in crime — Taylor James Pugh, 25, who lived in the same apartment complex — blew their cover when she recognized her husband on a social media post by the Howard County Police Department seeking information about possible suspects after a series of similar incidents.

Pugh entered a guilty plea in June and was sentenced to 26 years in jail.

In three cases, Pugh and Padmore forced the victims at gunpoint to lie face-down in the backseat of their vehicles as they drove through various jurisdictions buying drugs using the victims' cash and credit cards, the report said. The fourth victim got away after a struggle, but her wallet and purse were taken.

Padmore and Pugh were “two men traveling through Columbia in search of victims…and when they located a victim, the nightmare began," Oldham said.

A jury deliberated for three hours before issuing the verdict on Thursday of guilty on 32 counts, the state's attorney reported. Sentencing for Padmore is set for Sept. 17.

See Also:

• MUGSHOTS: Columbia Carjacking Suspects | Patch
• Police: Columbia Carjacking Suspects Are in Custody
• Columbia Carjacking Suspect Photos Released: Police
• Suspects Carjack Woman in Columbia, Hit ATMs: Police

Patch File Photo.