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Amanda Burdick, 23, entered the treatment court program on March 20, 2014 after pleading guilty to three counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third Degree, facing potentially 27 years in state prison if unsuccessful in the program, Tendy said.
Had she successfully completed the program, Burdick had the opportunity to have all her charges dismissed.
After absconding from one treatment facility, Burdick rotated through four additional inpatient facilities but was repeatedly discharged for conduct considered dangerous to other participants, Tendy said.
Burdick ultimately exhausted all her treatment options and was terminated from the program, and sentenced to a total of 15 years state prison.
Thomas Coviello, 68, was terminated from the program and sentenced to 2 1/3 to seven years in state prison.
Coviello entered Treatment Court on Dec. 4, 2014 after pleading guilty to one count of felony driving while intoxicated and an admission to a violation of probation.
Coviello was arrested for operating an unregistered motor vehicle and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree on Jan. 10, 2017 in violation of his agreement which prohibited him from driving, Tendy said.
“Too many lives are lost to addictions,” Tendy said. “Treatment Court is an opportunity, but if you abuse that opportunity, if you violate the conditions of the program and place other participants at risk, you will go to prison.”
The treatment court program seeks alternative methods for helping drug addicts caught up in the legal system through a rigorous two-year program designed to allow participants to avoid prison and become productive members of the community.
The cases were prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Breanne Smith.
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