Robert Doral Harrod (l) and Adam C. Kelson, Jr.

Leonardtown, MD — Two of the three men charged in connection with an armed robbery at a Lexington Park motel have been sentenced in St. Mary’s County Circuit Court.

Adam Kelson, Jr., 30 of Lexington Park was sentenced Oct. 16 to five years in the Maryland Department of Corrections by Judge Karen Abrams. The judge suspended three years of the total eight-year sentence.

Robert Harrod, 28, also of Lexington Park was sentenced to five years in jail by Judge Michael Stamm, but all but one year, two months and eight days of that sentence was suspended. But the judge made the sentence concurrent with a three-year jail sentence Harrod is already serving for drug distribution conviction in Calvert County.

Both men pled guilty to second-degree assault and theft of less than $1,000. With those two pleas the state dropped charges of armed robbery for both men.

According to the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, the two men, and a third defendant, Terrance Savoy, were involved in a strong-arm robbery May 6, 2014 at the A&E Motel on Great Mills Road in Lexington Park. According to the sheriff’s office Criminal Investigation Division, the three men approached the victim, assaulted him and stole his property.

Kelson’s attorney, Bruce Johnson of Bowie, told Judge Abrams at the sentencing that his client had “lesser involvement” in the incident. But Judge Abrams noted that the stolen goods were found in Kelson’s possession.

Kelson admitted to the judge that he had problems with anger management. He told the judge. “I miss my daughter and would like to be home for her.”

But Judge Abrams observed, “You put yourself in a position where you face jail time.”

Kelson’s record, including other assaults, put him in a position where the offense made him culpable for a significant jail sentence.

Assistant State’s Attorney Joseph Stanalonis handled both cases for the state during the Oct. 16 sentencings.

Savoy, the third defendant, is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 30.

Contact Dick Myers at dick.myers@thebaynet.com