According to Maryland public records, Kenneth Allen Hern, 64, of Lowell, Oregon, was indicted last year on three counts in Howard County: importing between 5 and 45 kilograms (11 to 99 pounds) of marijuana, intent to distribute and possession. Bond was set at $150,000. The first and third charges have a recorded disposition of "Nolle Prosequi," which is Latin for "we shall no longer prosecute."

On the charge of intent to distribute, a felony in Maryland, a plea of guilty was entered on April 1, 2016, on Mr. Hern's behalf by Andrew Ira Alperstein, a Baltimore attorney. A jail term of 5 years was imposed and suspended. A 2-year supervised probationary period was imposed, along with 150 hours of community service to be served by April 1, 2018, and a $1,000 fine plus court costs. Probation supervision was transferred to Oregon.

Also, according to the PERS database, Mr. Hern retired January 1, 2003, after 341 months of service with a Tier One monthly benefit of $6,657, or $79,886 a year.