Ex-cop Richards admits to using ‘ice’ once again

Florencio Q. Richards, a former police officer on federal probation after serving a 24-month prison sentence for distributing methamphetamine or “ice,” admitted to using “ice” again.

U.S. Probation Officer Gregory F. Arriola informed the U.S. District Court for the NMI on Thursday that Richards admitted that he used “ice” on April 28, 2014, and on May 10, 2014.

Due to the violations, Arriola recommended that Richards be placed on home detention for three months. Richards is to be restricted to his house at all times except for employment, education, religious services, medical substance or mental health treatment, court appearances, or other activities approved in advance by a probation officer.

Richards is currently on substance abuse treatment and testing.

Arriola said that Richards, while undergoing random drug testing on April 29, 2014, admitted that he had used “ice” the day before. According to Richards, he was cleaning out his garage when he found an old glass pipe that contained “ice” residue.

On May 12, 2014, Richards reported to the U.S. Probation Office for another noncompliance meeting after the latter received information from the treatment center that Richards failed to appear for a counseling session on May 9, 2014, a make-up session on May 10, 2014, and a random drug test on May 11, 2014.

Arriola said that Richards admitted using “ice” again on May 10, 2014.

On May 14, 2014, Arriola said, Richards returned to the U.S. Probation Office with his uncle, who when briefed about his nephew’s situation, agreed to accept him into his house and help monitor him.

It was only on Jan. 30, when Judge Manglona revoked Richards’ supervised release and sent him to three months in prison with credit for time served for using “ice” again.

Manglona told him she hopes to see him return as a productive member of the community.

“You should get busy doing positive things,” the judge said.

Richards has been on three years of supervised probation since Feb. 20, 2013, after he served a 12-month prison term for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine or “ice,” distribution of “ice,” and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

In August 2011, the federal court imposed a 24-month prison term on Richards for distributing “ice” while he was still an active officer.