Doctor who had drug-fueled sex parties gets 5 years probation
Dr. Andrew Scott Martin, who threw drug-fueled sex parties at a Las Vegas hotel and his Henderson mansion, was ordered Monday to serve up to five years‘ probation.
Martin apologized to District Judge Kathleen Delaney, saying the case has been an "embarrassment" to his family and his practice.
The 47-year-old board-certified orthopaedic surgeon admitted in March to three felony counts of possession of a controlled substance. Should he complete the probation, during which he must refrain from drugs and alcohol, the charges would be dismissed.
"I am very sorry that the actions I have taken brought me here today," Martin said. "I take full responsibility for the decisions I made. ... I will never put myself, my family or my profession at risk again."
Martin initially faced 10 drug charges, including three counts of trafficking a controlled substance, and years in prison in connection with the parties that police raided. But prosecutors agreed to a rare deal in which Martin would have no underlying sentence, since he was never actually found guilty.
"These situations are always appalling for the court to hear," Delaney said. "I have zero sympathy for the battle that Dr. Martin has been through as related to being charged with these crimes. ... He should have understood the law from the beginning, and he should have conducted himself as a doctor who has taken oath to do no harm. I find the circumstances here beyond troubling."
Prosecutors said the deal was negotiated in part because Martin had voluntarily sought substance abuse treatment even before he was indicted.
Martin had no prior criminal record. His lawyer, Peter James Christiansen, told the judge that Martin was raised in abject poverty by a single mother in south central Los Angeles.
His rise to become a doctor was "truly an American success story," Christiansen said.
The doctor partygoers called "Scotty" or "Doctor Scott," was indicted in February along with his wife, Jennifer Martin, also known as Jennifer Lynn Taylor, and six others with connections to the kinky affairs. Authorities said Martin regularly hosted themed sex parties that attracted hundreds of people who snorted cocaine, swallowed pills and smoked marijuana.
Martin enrolled in an in-patient treatment program at the Betty Ford Center in California and was discharged in November with the recommendation that he enroll in a medical professionals monitoring program and intensive outpatient treatment.
The doctor’s wife pleaded guilty earlier this month to a single charge of possession of drugs which may not be introduced in interstate commerce and paid a $1,000 fine. Jaymie Lenz and Jovan Sanita Smith, who were indicted along with the doctor, did the same.
After earning his medical degree from Howard University in 1995, Martin served as Naval chief of orthopedics during Operation Iraqi Freedom and was part of the orthopedic sports medicine team at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.
He was licensed in Nevada in April 2005 and opened ASM Ortho on south Fort Apache Road, which he no longer operates. Since his indictment was made public, Martin has worked for Medicare and Medicaid patients, according to his lawyer.
Martin was suspended from practicing medicine for two months after his arrest, according to the Nevada Board of Medical Examiners, and he must meet stringent guidelines for two years if he wants to continue working as a doctor.
Under terms set by the state board in December, he was allowed to return to work but must submit to random hair and urine tests, complete 40 hours of community service related to medicine, not violate any state laws, abstain from all mood-altering or addictive substances unless otherwise prescribed by a treating physician or dentist, attend at least three 12-step meetings each week for 90 days, work with a 12-step sponsor to support his sobriety and attend a Caduceus meeting ’ Alcoholics Anonymous meetings for health professionals ’ at least twice a month.
Should he violate any of the terms, he faces immediate suspension, and the board would move to revoke his license.
A Metro organized crime bureau detective recently told a grand jury that a confidential informant years ago told police about the ’adult-type parties’ rife with all kinds of narcotics.
Police later learned more about the doctor’s parties and infiltrated a rendezvous at the Trump hotel and several more at his $4 million Henderson home.
Two other people, Christopher Sbraccia and Robert Ruffin, who were indicted along with the doctor, are still awaiting a November trial date.
Contact reporter David Ferrara at dferrara@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039. Find him on Twitter: @randompoker
