Former Oklahoma State Basketball Coach in Treatment for Prescription Drug Addiction
Sean Sutton, the former Oklahoma State basketball coach, is facing four drug-related felony charges. But instead of attending his court hearing Tuesday, Sutton remained in treatment at a Tulsa drug rehabilitation center, his attorney told a Payne County judge. Stillwater attorney Trace Morgan entered a not guilty plea on behalf of Sutton, 41.
"This is a dark day for our community and for Oklahoma State University and the Sutton family,” said Payne County District Attorney Robert Hudson, who filed the charges against Sutton. "It’s going to be important that we handle it like we would any other case.”
John Estus of NewsOK.com writes that the charges stem from Sutton’s attempt last week to pick up pharmaceutical drugs mailed to him by a Seattle woman he met in rehab last year, according to court documents.
Three of the charges carry a punishment of up to 10 years in prison; the other charge is punishable by up to five years in prison. It’s too early to comment on whether Sutton will be offered a plea deal, Hudson said.
"We will sit down with defense counsel, as we do in all cases, and discuss a good outcome to this case—what would be the proper and just thing to do,” Hudson said.
Sutton has told state drug enforcement agents that he is battling an addiction to painkillers. He also told agents he was using the pharmaceutical drugs he attempted to pick up Thursday to help him cease illegal drug use, according to court records.
Sutton posted $10,000 bail Friday, and was freed from jail on the condition that he remain in treatment until completing it or appearing in court.
Hudson said Sutton’s apparent addiction is emblematic of a growing prescription drug abuse problem here and nationwide. "This is a silent epidemic that we have in the United States,” Hudson said. "We’re starting to see more and more of this.”
Sutton’s struggles with substance abuse and addiction weren’t publicly known until his arrest last week. His father, former OSU coach Eddie Sutton, battled alcoholism.
"They obviously are a well-known family,” Hudson said.
"It’s just tough on the whole community, but nobody’s above the law, and how Mr. Sutton is handling this doesn’t surprise me. He’s stepping up to the plate. The first thing that needed to be done was to get inpatient treatment, and he’s doing that. We’ll deal with the criminal charges as the system moves forward,” Hudson added.
Sutton is charged with obtaining a controlled dangerous substance (oxycodone) by fraud from multiple doctors in August 2009, when agents say they first contacted Sutton about drug abuse; unlawful possession of a controlled dangerous substance (oxycodone) without a prescription (authorities said he had an oxycodone pill in his car when he was pulled over Thursda); attempted possession of controlled dangerous substances (Adderall and clonazapam) without a prescription (authorities said he picked up a package he believed contained pharmaceutical drugs before he was arrested); and use of a communication device to commit a felony (authorities said he used his cell phone to arrange for the delivery of the pharmaceutical drugs).