He was found with 100 grams of heroin in Frederick County in April, 2017.
Frederick, Md (KM). It’s off to prison for a Fairmont, WV man arrested in Frederick County for possession with intent to distribute heroin. Todd Vontrael Hazelton, 35, was sentenced on Tuesday in Circuit Court to 20 years in prison, with all but five years suspended. He will also be on five years of supervised probation after he’s released.
Hazelton was arrested on April 19th, 2017 by a Sheriff’s Deputy on the Route 75 ramp to Interstate 70. Authorities say Hazelton did not make a complete stop at red light. A police canine was called to the scene to do a sniff on Hazelton’s van, and indicated the presence of narcotics. A search netted syringes, plastic bags and marijuana belonging to a female passenger. While searching Hazelton, authorities say they found 101 grams of heroin in his pants pocket.
He was charged with possession with intent to distribute heroin, which is a felony. Hazelton pleaded guilty in October, 2017 to that charge.
In court, Hazelton had argued that he was an addict, and the heroin was for his personal use. But State’s Attorney Charlie Smith says more than 100 grams of heroin indicates Hazelton was planning to sell the drugs. “We felt that a long sentence in the Division of Corrections was warranted. We just thought with that much dope, you’re not just a user. You also have to dealing it. And that’s why Todd Hazelton ultimately got 20 years with all but five years suspended in the Division of Corrections,” he says.
“We try to get substantial sentences on dealers. We wish we could have gotten a more substantial sentence, quite frankly, on Todd Hazelton. But hopefully five years in the DOC will send a message that you can’t be dealing heroin on the street that’s killing people,” says Smith.
If Hazelton fouls up during her probation period, Smith says he could be sent back to prison to serve the remaining 15 years of his sentence.
By Kevin McManus