Man convicted in armed carjacking insists he only borrowed vehicle

Oxon Hill resident faces 30 years in jail for Suitland theft

by Andrea Noble | Staff Writer Gazette.Net

An Oxon Hill man convicted last week of armed carjacking insisted to the jury in his trial that he didn't steal the victim's car — he was borrowing it to buy marijuana.

After less than an hour of deliberation Feb. 16, the Prince George's County jury found Lowell Braswell, 46, guilty of nine counts including armed carjacking, robbery with a deadly weapon, first- and second-degree assault and auto theft, county prosecutors announced Feb. 18. He faces up to 30 years in prison.

According to prosecutors, on Oct. 23, 2008, Braswell approached Oakley Hopkins, 66, while Hopkins was unloading his car at the Parklane Bowling Alley in Suitland. Braswell pulled a handgun, demanded Hopkins' car and drove away. Hopkins was not injured in the incident.

Police stopped Braswell less than 10 minutes later in Hopkins' car and brought the Temple Hills resident to the scene to identify him.

Braswell said that he didn't steal Hopkins' car, but instead borrowed it.

"My client maintains that there never was a carjacking or a theft," said Braswell's attorney, Edward Sobansky. "He borrowed the vehicle to go and obtain marijuana for the victim and didn't come back as quickly as anticipated."

Hopkins testified that he did not know Braswell and would have never given over his car if not for the gun, said Ada Clark-Edwards, an assistant state's attorney for Prince George's County, through a spokeswoman.

No handgun or drugs were located by police, according to both sides.

Prince George's County Circuit Court Judge Cathy Serrette presided over the case.

Braswell will be sentenced March 12.

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