LEONARDTOWN, Md. — Authorities in St. Mary’s County have charged Lucas Graham Hockaday, 23, of Lexington Park, with obstruction of justice and witness intimidation in connection with a pending attempted murder case. Hockaday is accused of attempting to bribe a witness in his upcoming trial for the November 2024 stabbing of Tracey Otis Braswell.
Investigators allege that while incarcerated at the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center, Hockaday attempted to pay off Braswell to prevent him from testifying or to secure false testimony. Authorities claim that Hockaday arranged a $5,000 payment in exchange for Braswell’s silence or false testimony regarding the stabbing.
Court documents indicate that a confidential source (CS) housed with Hockaday at the detention center alerted investigators to the scheme. The CS reported that Braswell, the victim of the stabbing, was placed in the same medical holding unit as Hockaday on January 15, 2025. Surveillance footage captured a tense interaction between the two men, with Braswell allegedly revealing scars from the attack and rejecting Hockaday’s handshake.
According to investigators, Hockaday then made a series of recorded jailhouse phone calls to his sister, Holly Anne Hockaday, instructing her to facilitate the $5,000 payment through Cash App. In one call, Hockaday cryptically referred to the payment arrangement, saying, “Christmas Tree came through the pod and shit got squashed,” which was interpreted as Braswell agreeing to the deal. Holly later confirmed to authorities that the payment was completed using a different Cash App account.
As a result of these actions, Hockaday now faces felony charges, including witness intimidation and obstruction of justice. If convicted, the felony charge alone could result in up to 20 years in prison.
Hockaday is already facing serious charges related to the November 2024 stabbing, including attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault, and use of a dangerous weapon with intent to injure. He remains incarcerated at the St. Mary’s County Detention Center as he awaits trial.
Prosecutors from the St. Mary’s County State’s Attorney’s Office are handling the case, and Hockaday is scheduled for a preliminary hearing before Judge Karen Christy Holt Chesser on April 11, 2025. Court documents suggest that prosecutors may introduce the recorded phone calls as evidence in the trial.
Authorities continue to stress the seriousness of witness intimidation, noting that it undermines the integrity of the judicial process. Anyone with additional information about the case is encouraged to contact the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office.
