Tony Raymond  Bean

Leonardtown, MD — A California, MD man has been sentenced to six months in jail after pleading guilty to distribution of prescription drugs. Tony Bean, 36, was sentenced Monday, Feb. 23 by St. Mary’s County Circuit Court Judge Karen Abrams.  The total sentence was three years but the judge suspended two-and-a-half years of it.

Three separate indictments were handed down against Bean on May 8 of last year. Bean pled guilty last month to one count in one of the indictments — distribution of controlled dangerous substances. In accepting the plea the state nolle prossed the remaining charges in the other indictments.

According to a report from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office at the time of Bean’s arrest: “Numerous complaints have been received by the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office related to the distribution of prescription medication by a suspect identified as Tony Raymond Bean, 35 of California.

“After several months of investigation detectives made sufficient progress during the investigation and a search and seizure warrant was obtained. The warrant resulted with the assistance of the Emergency Services Team, K-9 deputies and support team members

“Once inside, detectives recovered 218 oxycodone tablets, 15 suboxone strips, eight firearms and more than $9,900 in cash.”

The sentencing hearing opened with Judge Abrams reporting to Assistant State’s Attorney Daniel White and Bean’s attorney Daniel Slade that she didn’t realize until reading the pre-sentence investigation that she has known Bean’s parents for quite some time.

Judge Abrams said that it could be argued either way – that by knowing his parents she would be more lenient or on the other hand would be harsher to avoid the appearance of conflict of interest. She asked the attorneys if they objected to her imposing the sentence. Neither said they did and Bean agreed.

Bean had no record according to Slade. He said Bean got hooked on pain medications. “It will follow him for the rest of his life,” Slade said. Slade said that Bean has a job ready for his as a heavy-equipment operator in Calvert County. He noted that Bean was recovering from back surgery.

The judge asked Bean if he was still on pain medication and he said he was on oxycodone. The judge wondered how he could operate equipment while under such medication and informed him that he would not be able to use the drugs once in jail.

Slade asked that his client be sentenced to home detention. The judge denied the request. She said that Bean was just making excuses for his behavior. “You are not taking responsibility for any of this,” she told him. The judge also denied a request for work release at this time until he has a chance to settle into his jail term.

During the sentencing, Bean turned to his parents and wife who were in the audience and apologized to them. “I made a bad mistake,” he told them.
Bean will be on three years of supervised probation after his release from jail.

Contact Dick Myers at news@thebaynet.com