Howland dentist sentenced to fine, probation for drug trafficking

Staff report

WARREN

Dr. Mark D. Jones, 49, of Fowler Township, a Howland dentist, was sentenced to five years’ probation and a host of conditions Monday after pleading guilty earlier to 10 drug charges relating to a “nonpatient associate.”

Jones’ attorney, J. Gerald Ingram, told Judge Peter Kontos of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court that Jones has completed his drug treatment and has six children at home, four of them severely disabled.

Jones also spoke, apologizing for his actions.

Among the conditions of his probation are that Dr. Jones lose his driver’s license for six months, serve a six-month house arrest with electronic monitoring, pay a $10,000 fine and perform 500 hours of community service.

Jones was convicted of writing prescriptions 10 times between March and October 2011 for oxycodone for the associate and received half of the pills for himself.

He remains active in his practice at 8799 E. Market St. His license was suspended by the Ohio State Dental Board in April 2012 but reinstated in July 2012 under a series of conditions, including that a treating practitioner verify that he is no longer “drug- or alcohol-dependent,” that he is in treatment and participating in an aftercare program and in Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous, and that he obtain additional training in dental-infection control.

Jones pleaded guilty in January to 10 counts of aggravated drug trafficking and could have gotten up to 30 years in prison.