On
September 9, 2016, detectives from the
St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division with the
assistance of the Special Operations Division began investigating Kimberly Ann
Lashley, age 44, of Leonardtown for a
reported criminal sexual relationship
with a male juvenile.
Information
received by the Sheriff’s Office suggested Lashley was actively involved in an
ongoing sexual relationship with a male juvenile who was residing with Lashley
in the Leonardtown area. The
investigation conducted by Detective Corporal Robert Merritt revealed evidence
of a sexual relationship between the
juvenile and Lashley, beginning in the
summer of 2016 and continuing through the onset of the investigation. Detective Merritt also discovered that during
the summer months of 2016, Lashley hosted numerous parties where alcohol was
available to several juveniles in attendance and witnesses stated
Lashley purchased alcohol for the juveniles.
Witnesses also reported that on several occasions, Lashley consumed
alcohol with them at her home.
Lashley
was charged with her sexual relationship with the male
victim, and she pled guilty to one count
of a Fourth Degree Sex Offense and one count of a Second Degree Assault on
November 11, 2016, during an appearance
in front of St. Mary’s County Circuit Court Judge Karen Abrams. Lashley’s
sentencing has been deferred pending the
completion of a Pre-Sentence Investigation.
