Anne Arundel Cop Blames Opioid Addiction For His Crimes

ANNAPOLIS, MD — An Anne Arundel County Police officer who pleaded guilty to lesser charges after being arrested for soliciting prostitutes while on duty was sentenced to five years of probation by an Anne Arundel County judge. Detective Brian Houseman, 45, had worked in the Bureau of Patrol in Eastern District for 13 years, before he was charged a year ago with fourth-degree sex offense, second-degree assault, two counts of prostitution, four counts of misconduct in office and extortion by a government employee.

This week Houseman pleaded guilty to two counts of misconduct in office and resigned from the police department. He was sentenced to two concurrent three-year sentences, which will be suspended if Houseman completes his probation.

At his sentencing, Houseman's attorney, John Robinson III, said his client had faced opioid addiction and “lost the career he loved,” the Capital-Gazette reported.

In court Houseman apologized for “the embarrassment I caused the department.”

The investigation into his actions began in April 2017 when a woman being interviewed by Anne Arundel County Police detectives said that Houseman harassed and sexually assaulted her. He allegedly sent the woman a picture of his genitalia and inappropriate sexual comments via text message while he was on duty. The woman also said she was persuaded by Houseman to have sex with him after he suggested he could "put in a good word" with an associate of the woman who was facing criminal charges, police said.

In March of 2017, Houseman had sex with a prostitute while he was on duty, investigators said.

Photo: Anne Arundel Police Department