Former Police Drug Lab Head Sentenced For Stealing 15K Pills

PASADENA, MD — A former supervisor in the Anne Arundel County Police Department's drug lab says the department knew of her struggle with painkillers after she was in a car crash, but a police spokesman says there was no indication Annette A. Box, 49, of Pasadena had sought help or was unable to do her job. Box's attorney and prosecutors traded accusations in court ahead of her sentencing Tuesday to six months in jail for misconduct in office and other charges related to the theft of prescription drugs from county drop-off boxes.

Authorities say potent and potentially addictive prescription narcotics, including Hydrocodone and Tramadol, were apparently taken by Box from one of the drug drop-off boxes used by the public to dispose of unwanted medications over a two-year period. Box was arrested in December 2016 and charged with multiple counts of possession of a controlled dangerous substance. Investigators said she took several controlled medications left in a drop box at one of the police department's district stations, which is a violation of police department policy.

The alleged theft came to light when Box was involved in a traffic accident at Forest Drive and Mountain Road in Pasadena. During the crash investigation, officers found several controlled narcotics in her vehicle; the drugs were not prescribed to Box, police say.

"It is uniquely distressing when a person who is placed in a position of trust, who works in service to our community, abuses their access for personal gain" said Anne Arundel County State's Attorney Wes Adams in a statement. "Annette Box violated the public's faith in law enforcement, and now finds herself on the other side of the criminal justice system."

Box pleaded guilty to stealing prescription drugs and her attorney, Peter O’Neill, urged the judge to place her on probation. O'Neill said Box's subordinates repeatedly told her superiors about her inability to focus at work, describing her as so drowsy she couldn’t perform regular tasks, The Capital-Gazette reports.

But police spokesman Lt. Ryan Frashure said there was no sign Box or her employees reported concerns about her addiction, and showed no evidence she was unable to perform work.

On Dec. 20, 2016, Box was involved in a car accident, and police said they were told by a witness that Box had her 12-year-old daughter carry black trash bags from her vehicle to a neighbor's home. When police asked the neighbor if they could search the bags, officers found a large amount of prescription drugs. Box told investigators that she picked up the drugs from drop boxes located in county police stations; the boxes are a way for residents to discard unused or unneeded prescription drugs so they can be safely destroyed.

From Aug. 16, 2014 to Dec. 16, 2016, Box exploited her position as director of the crime lab to unlawfully remove controlled dangerous substances from secured county facilities for her personal use, Adams said. In total, 15,813 scheduled and non-scheduled pills were found to be in Box's possession or under her control.

On Dec. 4, 2017, Box pleaded guilty to misconduct in office, possession of a controlled dangerous substance - not marijuana, and theft scheme: less than $1,000. Judge Michele Jaklitsch sentenced her to five years suspend all but six months of active incarceration, the maximum period of incarceration recommended by Maryland State Sentencing Guidelines, and five years of supervised probation upon release.

Anne Arundel County Police Chief Timothy Altomare asked the United States Drug Enforcement Agency to help the department complete an inventory and audit of the controlled dangerous substances overseen by the drug lab following Box's arrest.

Investigators searched Box's home, where they reportedly found more controlled prescription medication not prescribed to her, and additional charges are possible.

Box was a non-sworn civilian employee of the Anne Arundel County Police Department and served as a supervisor in the police department's drug lab. She was suspended from duty while the agency completed both the criminal and internal investigations.

Officials say Box worked for the Anne Arundel County Police Department since 2004 and was a supervisor since 2012.
»Photo of Annette A. Box, courtesy of Anne Arundel County Police