Dentist Dragged in for Dumping

Main Line dentist accused in the Jersey Shore medical waste case

The Main Line dentist accused of dumping medical waste off the coast of Avalon last summer, pleaded not guilty in his first court appearance Thursday.

Dr. Thomas W. McFarland, Jr. is charged with dumping needles and other medical-type waste that washed up in Avalon during the last week of August – the peak of the summer tourist season. The beaches had to be closed five times that week.

“They’re serious charges. What happened this summer had a real devastating impact on Avalon,"
said Edward Bonanno, N.J. Deputy Attorney General. "One of the things we want to get is restitution for Avalon, which was the victim here."

“We’ve entered a not guilty plea. We’re going to be taking the necessary steps to process an application for pre-trial intervention,” said McFarland’s Attorney, Joe Rodgers.

A pre-trial intervention is an alternative to the traditional criminal justice process. It’s generally for first-time offenders.

If McFarland met the requirements and went through the program, at the end of it, Rodgers said the Main Line dentist would likely have to pay civil fines, make restitution and perform community service. Most importantly, he might end up with not record of conviction.

McFarland, who owns a house in the Avalon Manor section of Middle Township, allegedly took his small motorboat into Townsend Inlet at the north end of Avalon on Aug. 22 and dumped a bag of waste from his dental practice in Wynnewood, Montgomery County, Pa.

The very next day, dental waste was found washed up along a stretch of beach at the north end of Avalon between 9th Street and 24th Street.  The waste included approximately 260 "Accuject" dental-type needles, 180 cotton swabs, a number of blue and white plastic capsules used to hold dental filling material, and other items. 

On Sept. 2, McFarland went to the Avalon Police Department and admitted dumping the dental waste. After searching his beach house, Boston Whaler boat and SUV in New Jersey, investigators obtained a search warrant for his dental office in Pennsylvania.

There, they discovered evidence corroborating McFarland's statement that the waste came from his practice, including drill bits and Accuject needles bearing the same lot numbers as those found in Avalon.

The Main Line dentist accused of dumping medical waste off the coast of Avalon last summer, pleaded not guilty in his first court appearance Thursday.

Dr. Thomas W. McFarland, Jr. is charged with dumping needles and other medical-type waste that washed up in Avalon during the last week of August – the peak of the summer tourist season. The beaches had to be closed five times that week.

“They’re serious charges. What happened this summer had a real devastating impact on Avalon,"
said Edward Bonanno, N.J. Deputy Attorney General. "One of the things we want to get is restitution for Avalon, which was the victim here."

McFarland, who owns a house in the Avalon Manor section of Middle Township, allegedly took his small motorboat into Townsend Inlet at the north end of Avalon on Aug. 22 and dumped a bag of waste from his dental practice in Wynnewood, Montgomery County, Pa.

The very next day, dental waste was found washed up along a stretch of beach at the north end of Avalon between 9th Street and 24th Street.  The waste included approximately 260 "Accuject" dental-type needles, 180 cotton swabs, a number of blue and white plastic capsules used to hold dental filling material, and other items.

On Sept. 2, McFarland went to the Avalon Police Department and admitted dumping the dental waste. After searching his beach house, Boston Whaler boat and SUV in New Jersey, investigators obtained a search warrant for his dental office in Pennsylvania. There, they discovered evidence corroborating McFarland's statement that the waste came from his practice, including drill bits and Accuject needles bearing the same lot numbers as those found in Avalon.

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