Sir Leander Evans Gamble, 57, of Waldorf
UPDATE 7/9/2026: Sir Leander Evans Gamble, 57, of Waldorf, was arrested July 3, 2026, and charged with first-degree assault and three counts of second-degree assault after three people renting a camper on his Penjack Place property told authorities he threatened them with a handgun and later assaulted them during a dispute, according to charging papers filed in Charles County.
The arrest came the same day Charles County authorities were at Gamble’s property for a separate matter that later led to dozens of animal-related charges. In that case, Charles County Animal Control said officers found two alligators, seven dogs, cats, kittens and other animals in poor conditions at the Waldorf home. Gamble was later charged with 74 animal-related counts, including possessing dangerous animals, felony aggravated animal cruelty, misdemeanor animal cruelty, failing to provide proper care, and violations related to dogs being restrained in unsafe or restrictive conditions.
According to the assault filing, a Charles County Sheriff’s Office officer responded around 1:54 p.m. July 3, 2026, to Penjack Place for a reported threats and harassment call. An adult female tenant told the officer that Gamble had assaulted her adult son and also assaulted her and another adult female who was described as her son’s girlfriend. The three were renting a camper on Gamble’s property, and the dispute allegedly began the previous day over living conditions in the camper after Gamble turned off the electricity, according to the filing.
The adult female tenant told the officer that around 12:30 p.m. on July 3, 2026, she and her adult son were near Gamble’s front steps when an argument broke out. She said Gamble went inside his home and came back outside holding a black handgun. She told police she was not sure whether the gun was pointed at her son, but said Gamble was waving it around and made several threats, including, “I’m going to shoot you,” “I’m going to kill you,” “I’m going to flatten your tires,” and “Y’all are going to get the fuck off of my property one way or another.”
The adult male victim gave a similar account, telling the officer that Gamble went inside the home and returned with a black handgun. He said Gamble pointed the gun in his face and that he could see the barrel.
The filing says the confrontation continued around 1:30 p.m., when Gamble allegedly approached the camper with a Rottweiler and tried to enter. The adult female tenant told police Gamble headbutted her during an argument. She said Gamble then went up the stairs toward the camper door, where the younger adult female victim blocked the doorway with her body. Gamble allegedly pushed her, causing her to fall on her right side. The adult male victim told police he then bear-hugged Gamble, and Gamble struck him in the mouth with an open hand.
The younger adult female victim told officers she saw Gamble show a black handgun and said she was pushed from the stairs and fell on her right side. When interviewed, Gamble denied showing a weapon and denied going into the home to retrieve a gun, according to the filing. He did acknowledge that he shoved the younger adult female victim and struck the adult male victim after the adult male bear-hugged him.
At an initial appearance later July 3, 2026, Gamble waived an attorney for that hearing, and a judicial officer ordered him held without bond. The initial appearance report says the judicial officer found a reasonable likelihood that Gamble posed a danger to the alleged victims, another person, or the community. The order also directed Gamble not to intimidate the adult male victim, the adult female tenant, or the younger adult female victim.
The same initial appearance paperwork listed Gamble as having prior convictions and pending cases, though it did not provide details about those convictions. It also noted that records and warrants checks were performed as part of the initial appearance process.
Separate filings show Gamble had also been charged about a month earlier in a theft case involving a Home Depot on Jefferson Farm Place in Waldorf. In that case, authorities alleged that on June 2, 2026, Gamble selected several items, placed them in a cart and left the store without paying. The items were valued at $227.93 and included hydrangea plants, a cantaloupe plant, two sledgehammer handles, animal repellent, insect killer and another bottle of animal repellent, according to the filing. A store employee said he stopped Gamble in the parking lot, recovered the merchandise and kept him there until police arrived.
The animal case filed after the July 3, 2026, search alleges that two alligators were kept in tanks inside the living room that were too small for them to fully extend their bodies and tails. Animal control also reported that the alligators lacked room to move and had no dry area to bask, with water described as black and thick with what appeared to be algae.
Animal control further alleged that five dogs were found outside in chain-link style kennels without drinkable water and amid excessive waste. Two additional dogs were allegedly chained in the yard with only about four feet of movement. The filing says all seven dogs were exposed to extreme heat, with heat indexes reaching 100 degrees Fahrenheit, without access to water or proper shelter. Two kittens were allegedly found in a garage cage with rotted formula, no drinkable water and food containing fly larvae, and another cat was found inside the home without drinkable water.
Animal control said seizure notices were served for two alligators, seven dogs, four cats, a ball python, a miniature horse, two tortoises and approximately 10 to 15 fish. The officer wrote that Gamble was “adamant there were no discrepancies with the conditions his animals had been found in.”
Gamble’s assault case was filed July 3, 2026. The animal-related charges were filed July 6, 2026, and a preliminary inquiry in that matter was scheduled for August 24, 2026, in Charles District Court. The theft case was filed June 2, 2026, with a preliminary inquiry scheduled for July 20, 2026.
7/7/2026: On July 3, at 12:26 p.m., officers responded to 10000 block of Penjack Place in Waldorf for a reported assault involving a firearm.
The investigation showed that the suspect, Sir Leander Evans Gamble, 57, of Waldorf, confronted three individuals renting a trailer on his property and physically assaulted them. Gamble then retrieved a handgun from his residence, pointed it at the victims, and made threats to harm them.
Officers arrested Gamble at the scene and obtained a search warrant for his residence, subsequently recovering six handguns.
Charles County Animal Control officers assisted due to multiple neglected animals observed on the property to include an alligator, a cayman, a snake, an emu, dogs, cats, and pigs.
Animal Control officers will continue an investigation into the animals’ welfare. Gamble was charged with aggravated assault.
Additional charges are pending further investigation. Gamble is currently being detained at the Charles County Detention Center without bond.
