Crime & Safety
Columbia Carjacker Sentenced to 120 Years in Prison
The 39-year-old abducted people in Columbia, robbed them and drove their cars — with the victims inside — to buy drugs, officials said.
ELLICOTT CITY, MD — The Columbia man convicted in a series of carjackings that happened last October has been sentenced to 120 years in prison, according to the Howard County State's Attorney's Office.
Ledell Maxwell Padmore, 39, of the 12000 block of Green Meadow Drive, was found guilty of 32 offenses after a four-day jury trial over the summer regarding armed robbery, kidnapping, assault, theft and other charges stemming from a crime spree Oct. 6 to 11, 2015. During that time, officials said two men and two women were carjacked and, in some cases, abducted by Padmore and his accomplice.
At the sentencing hearing this week, Deputy State’s Attorney Kim Oldham read letters that two victims wrote detailing the terror they went through as a result of the crimes. Padmore posed “a major risk to public safety," Oldham said.
Find out what's happening in Columbiafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
In three cases, Pugh and his partner in crime 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, officials said. The fourth victim got away after a struggle, but her wallet and purse were taken. The carjackings occurred on Cedar Lane, Little Patuxent Parkway, Blue February Way and Hickory Ridge Road.
Judge Raymond J. Kayne handed down the 120-year sentence in Howard County Circuit Court on Monday, Sept. 19.
Find out what's happening in Columbiafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Padmore's attorney, Alfred Guillaume III, reportedly said he plans to appeal the conviction and that the sentence could have been cut in half.
Padmore's partner in crime — Taylor James Pugh, 26, who lived in the same apartment complex —entered a guilty plea in June and was sentenced to 26 years in jail. Pugh's wife was the one who 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 the crime spree began.
See Also:
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
