A 26-year-old Glen Burnie man, whose decision to run from authorities nearly two years ago sparked a chaotic chase through Howard and Baltimore counties and resulted in the accidental shooting of a Howard police officer, was sentenced yesterday to 20 years in prison.
Despite an emotional plea for leniency, Howard Circuit Judge Raymond J. Kane Jr. noted that Lawrence Thomas III's actions May 5, 2000, placed "hundreds or thousands of people ... in jeopardy."
"Your conduct was atrocious," Kane said before imposing a series of concurrent sentences for drug distribution, assault, malicious destruction and fleeing and eluding convictions. Thomas will begin serving his Howard sentence after completing a 12-year term for drug distribution in Anne Arundel County.
Minutes earlier, Thomas wiped away tears as his mother, Barbara Kirby, detailed a life gone astray.
Prosecutor Brendan Clary noted Thomas' lengthy criminal record - convictions on 16 charges, including the eight from the Howard case, and two probation violations.
The Howard case also included his third felony drug conviction, he said.
"To date, Mr. Thomas has shown no remorse, taken no responsibility," Clary said. "He is, today at age 26, a career criminal."
Thomas was convicted in August after serving as his own lawyer during a three-day jury trial that detailed the chaos that began when Howard officers, who had placed him under surveillance that day, tried to arrest him on drug charges.
During the same trial, the jury also acquitted Thomas of attempted murder. Officer Ann Giardina, who was in a marked car, stopped Thomas' maroon Chrysler on U.S. 1, near Montgomery Road in Elkridge, and she and an undercover detective got out of their cars, according to court files.
At that point, Thomas backed up and drove toward the undercover officer, who shot at the Chrysler. In the ensuing minutes, Thomas rammed two police cars as officers tried to box him in. He then drove his Chrysler toward another undercover officer, who also shot at the car, according to testimony and court documents.
During the incident, Giardina was shot in the right leg. Police officials later said she was apparently hit by a stray bullet fired by a fellow police officer.
Thomas escaped and drove south on U.S. 1 at the beginning of afternoon rush hour. He prompted a police pursuit that, at times, approached 100 mph, according to court documents and testimony. He was arrested after officers followed his car, which, by then, was losing pieces of tire and metal, onto the parking lot of a Home Depot store on U.S. 40 in Catonsville, authorities said.
Authorities found crack cocaine in the vehicle, according to court documents.
Yesterday, Thomas' lawyer, Daryl Jones, said an Anne Arundel County judge left the possibility open that Thomas could be released early for drug treatment. Jones also asked Kane to sign off on a drug evaluation - and possibly an inpatient treatment program - in the future. Kane said that he would agree only to the evaluation.
Since he has been incarcerated, Thomas said, his memory has improved, and he is now "optimistic about where life can go."