Lazear pleads guilty
By: Kevin Dunleavy
Examiner Staff Writer
November 30, 2006
MONTGOMERY COUNTY — Wheaton High football star Pat Lazear entered a guilty plea Wednesday in Montgomery County Circuit Court, admitting his role in the robbery of a Bethesda Smoothie King on March 30.
Lazear, one of five former Whitman High student-athletes accused in the case, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery, a misdemeanor, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. It is the same charge a jury found another defendant in the case, Justin Schweiger, guilty of last week.
According to terms of the agreement with Lazear, the state will seek no more than 18 months in prison. Sentencing is set for Dec. 15.
"The state will ask for a period of incarceration," said State’s Attorney Tom DeGonia. "We’re free to ask for up to 18 months."
Lazear, a 6-foot-1, 230-pound linebacker ranked among the top five prospects in the state by recruiting service rivals.com, answered questions from Judge Katherine Savage in a composed and respectful tone Wednesday. He left court with his parents and attorney Paul Kemp.
By pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery, Lazear, 18, avoids a felony armed robbery charge. He has been accused by another defendant in the case, Robert Warren, of supplying the replica gun that was used in the crime. Warren, who entered the Smoothie King alone, and executed the robbery, pled guilty to first-degree armed robbery last month. Warren was sentenced to five years, with all but four months suspended, receiving 30 days in jail and 90 days on house arrest.
Schweiger will be sentenced Jan. 23. Another defendant in the case, Alex Krouskas, has a trial date of Jan. 8. Tommy Ashley was the only defendant in the case to have his trial moved to juvenile court.
