Dentist Pleads No Contest To Drug Charges

Thursday, November 29th 2007, 10:29 am

By: News On 6

A Bartlesville dentist pled "no contest" to two drug-related charges on Wednesday, according to the Washington County court clerkâ€™s office. John Riddlebarger is charged with maintaining a place to keep or sell a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance within 2,000 feet of a park. Riddlebarger has waived a jury trial and remains free on a $100,000 bond.

John Riddlebarger is a 74-year-old retired dentist in Bartlesville. He was arrested in February, 2007, after Bartlesville police and Drug Enforcement Agency officials allegedly videotaped him placing a bottle of pills in some shrubbery outside his home. Someone then arrived at the house, took the pills and placed several hundred dollars in the shrubs, officials said.

Bartlesville police raided Riddlebargerâ€™s home and say they found about $30,000 in drugs including 6,000 hydrocodone and Valium pills. John Riddlebarger was originally charged with six felonies including distributing controlled dangerous substances within 2,000 feet of a park and acquiring proceeds from drug activity.

The "no contest" plea was entered after the original charges were dismissed and amended, according to the Washington County court clerkâ€™s office. The court clerk reports that four of six charges against Riddlebarger were dismissed, including a charge of selling drugs.

Sentencing in the case has been set for January 18, 2008.

Watch the video: Dentist Found Guilty On Drug Charges

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