Robert Glenn Brown Jr., 38 of Waldorf, had a long day at Charles County Circuit Court Tuesday, Oct. 7.
He sat in the court room through 13 cases involving sentencings, review hearings, a child abuse case, criminal motions, a status conference and a plea on a second-degree burglary charge.
At the end of the day, his was the last case called on the circuit court docket.
Brown was in court to face a violation of probation charge.
Charles County Assistant State’s Attorney John A. Stackhouse detailed the charges against him, stating that on four occasions the defendant tested positive for morphine.
“He tested negative on his last report Sept. 4,” Stackhouse said, admitting that since last testing positive Brown had enrolled in a substance abuse program and brought a payment of $1,000 toward restitution owed from two burglary charges to the court. Stackhouse said $950 of restitution remained and that the defendant had served three years of a five-year sentence on the burglary charges.
“As part of his probation he was to remain drug free,” he stated. “He admits to violating his probation. I ask the court to give him a sentence where he can participate in the jail treatment program. Heroin is no joke.”
Public Defender Chris Stuart argued that his client had enrolled in a substance abuse program with the county health department and was attending group therapy regularly.
Stuart pleaded against incarceration.
“He has a two-year-old son,” Stuart said. “He watches his son during the day. He works out of his own home. He lives with his mother. He can’t afford child care. They rely on him.”
Brown told the judge he has been struggling on an off with drug addiction but tested negative on his last test.
“I’m very concerned about the fact you’re using with a child present,” Bragunier stated.
“No, no, ma’am, never,” Brown said.
Bragunier sentenced Brown to 15 years, but suspended all but 18 months and scheduled him to return to court Feb. 25, 2015.
“However, the court reserves the right that if there are any positive tests we can accelerate and have the sentence commence before that date,” she stated. “I am going to ask for a higher level of testing at the health department and I want you tested at a minimum of once a week. Hopefully we will not see you before Feb. 25.”
The judge told Brown that if he continues to test negative and pays the remaining restitution before his next court date, “you would be in a position to suspend that balance” of incarceration time.
Contact Joseph Norris at joe.norris@thebaynet.com