La Plata, MD – Brandi Michelle Harman, 23 of Newburg, was sentenced Wednesday, Jan. 21 by Charles County Circuit Court Judge H. James West to 60 days in jail for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.
Charles County Assistant State’s Attorney Francis J. Granados told the court that Harman had a previous violation for possession.
“When she was arrested she had 21 baggies of packaged marijuana,” Granados said. “It was clear she was selling.”
Granados said the state a period of incarceration “appropriate,” and said the guidelines called for probation to 12 months.
Harman’s defense attorney Joseph Vallario, told the court that Harman was shuffled back and forth between Newburg and Texas during her youth and was placed under the parental custody of her grandparents who physically abused her. She was then placed in foster care.
Vallario told the court Harman has two children with shared custody.
“She has gone into the health department for substance abuse counseling and is doing very well,” he said.
West offered Harman the choice of doing 10 days followed by four years of supervised probation, or she could do 60 days “and the case is over.”
Vallario said his client “has problems getting back and forth” and opted to do the 60 day sentence.
West then sentenced her to 60 days with one day of credit for jail time already served.
Contact Joseph Norris at joe.norris@thebaynet.com