Man Charged In Theft Of Farm Equipment

THURMONT, Md. (AP) -- A Thurmont-area farmer known for elaborate corn mazes faces charges of possessing stolen farm and construction equipment valued at more than $106,000.

Jan Lawyer, 52, told The Associated Press on Monday that he didn't know the machinery was stolen when he bought some of it years ago. He says the other pieces somehow ended up on his property but he didn't steal them.

The Frederick County Sheriff's Office says it's investigating other people and other thefts, with more charges possible.

Investigators say the equipment was stolen from Frederick County and Baltimore City from 2003 to 2006.

The Lawyer family creates an annual autumn corn maze it claims is the largest in Maryland. Lawyer says he converted an allegedly stolen mini-excavator into an apple cannon for entertaining farm visitors.

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