Maryland
Maryland man sentenced for supplying drugs to friend who overdosed and died
A Harford County man will spend 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to supplying drugs to a friend, who overdosed and died in 2023.
Kusan Hines, 43, from Havre De Grace, was handed a 30-year prison sentence with all but 12 suspended, followed by five years of probation, for second-degree murder and distribution of controlled substances.
Harford County State’s Attorney Alison Healy said an autopsy performed on the 33-year-old victim showed he died of cocaine and fentanyl intoxication.
“Here in Harford County, we are taking a more aggressive approach to these fatal overdoses and the people who are distributing those drugs, in terms of sentencing,” Healy said.
Setting a precedence
State’s Attorney Healey said Hines’ sentence is one of the first in the state that a drug dealer has been sentenced for murder. She hopes this sends a message to future drug distributors.
“We actually don’t want to prosecute these cases,” Healey said. “Instead, we would like to see these convictions stop people from committing these crimes, to lessen the drug dealing on the streets.”
Residents agree with murder charge
Harford County residents agree that a murder charge was appropriate in this case.
“Certainly, if you’re a drug dealer and you’re selling drugs that are causing people to overdose, then you need to be held accountable,” said Harford County resident Stephanie Dietz.
“The poison, we have to get rid of it,” said Harford County resident Michael Murphy.” So he must pay the consequences. He’s the cause of it.”
Substance abuse help
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 108,000 people in the United States died from drug-related overdoses in 2022
The National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics says the deadliest drugs in the United States are opioids, which includes fentanyl.
“I definitely think the person taking the drug has some accountability, but in today’s day, there are drugs mixed in that can cause fatalities that the person taking it may not even be aware of,” added Harford County resident Dawn Fisher.
“Most of the time, they have a problem,” Harford County resident Gary Clark said. “They have a disease they’re suffering from that they need help with.”
If you need help with addiction or substance abuse, call the National Drug Helpline at (844) 289-0879. If you live in Baltimore County, resources are available here or here in Baltimore City.
Calling all outdoorsmen and women — Maryland’s Lower Shore is home to some of the best hiking, walking and running trails on the East Coast.
Here’s a closer look at four picturesque parks and preserves with nature trails in the Berlin, Salisbury and Ocean City area.
Assateague Island
Assateague Island offers a wide variety of paved and unpaved trails open for hiking and 37 miles of flat beach terrain for wandering and beachcombing. Assateague Island’s Maryland District features a Life of the Dunes trail, Life of the Forest trail, Life of the Marsh trail.
Furnace Town
Furnace Town is nestled between the Pocomoke State Forest and Nature Conservancy’s Nassawango Creek Preserve. The popular historical site offers three Nature Conservancy Trails, three Maryland Forest service Trails, and a 26-acre outdoor museum and recreation area.
Pemberton Historical Park
Pemberton Historical Park, a 262-acre area featuring a trail system, outdoor amphitheater and more, was created in the 1980s. The park offers 4.5 miles of nature trails for walking and hiking only, allowing visitors to explore wetlands, forests and more of the natural world.
Nassawango Creek Preserve
Nassawango Creek Preserve’s primeval forest has an abundance of bald cypress and black gum trees. Visitors are invited to indulge in its four trails, the Nassawango Joe, Prothonotary Warbler, Ron Wilson Memorial Trail and Leifer Trail, as well as self-guided audio tours.
Olivia Minzola covers communities on the Lower Shore. Contact her with tips and story ideas at ominzola@delmarvanow.com.
The 21-year-old second baseman and 11th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft has deep ties to the D.C. region.
(Courtesy Washington Nationals)
Courtesy Washington Nationals
(Courtesy Washington Nationals)
Courtesy Washington Nationals
(Courtesy Washington Nationals)
Courtesy Washington Nationals
(Courtesy Washington Nationals)
Courtesy Washington Nationals
(Courtesy Washington Nationals)
Courtesy Washington Nationals
(Courtesy Washington Nationals)
Courtesy Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals’ first-round draft pick Chris Hacopian inked his first professional contract Wednesday, a moment made sweeter by the fact it was just a 30-minute drive from home to get to Nationals Park and put pen to paper.
The 21-year-old second baseman and 11th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft has deep ties to the D.C. region. He’s from Potomac, Maryland, and played his high school ball at Winston Churchill, where he was named the 2022 Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year and a 2022 Washington Post All-Met selection.
According to MLB.com, Hacopian grew up a Nationals fan, admiring the likes of Ian Desmond, Danny Espinosa and others. He also played his first two collegiate seasons at the University of Maryland, where his father Derek played before him, before transferring to Texas A&M for his junior season.
With the Aggies, Hacopian hit .319 with 11 home runs and 41 RBI across 42 games en route to being named First-Team All-Southeastern Conference and a Third-Team All-American by Baseball America, the Nationals said in a news release.
After inking his contract Wednesday, Hacopian donned his new jersey and ball cap and stepped onto D.C.’s beloved diamond as a part of the Nationals organization for the first time.
“That was so cool, oh my gosh. I’ve been in the stands like, 100 times, but being on the field is so different,” he said.
Hacopian was ranked 14th among MLB Draft prospects by MLB.com. The 6-foot-1-inch, 210-pound second baseman boasted one of the best bats in college baseball, according to MLB.com, with excellent control over the strike zone and feel for the barrel, along with solid pop.
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The state said the five recently traveled together to “a location in the U.S. experiencing an active measles outbreak.”
Maryland health officials confirmed five more measles cases, all in Carroll County.
“These individuals recently traveled together to a location in the U.S. experiencing an active measles outbreak,” the state Department of Health said in a release.
The agency said others may have been exposed on the afternoon of July 13 in the emergency department waiting room at Carroll Hospital Center in Westminster.
Another measles case recently prompted warnings from health officials in Maryland, Virginia and the District. On June 17, a Maryland resident traveled through Dulles International Airport and visited a D.C. urgent care clinic.
Measles is highly contagious. It can spread through the air through coughs, breathing, and sneezes. Early symptoms can include fevers of over 101 degrees, coughs, runny noses, watery eyes and face or body rashes.
It can take up to 21 days after exposure for the first symptoms to appear, and those who are not fully vaccinated or otherwise immune to measles are especially vulnerable.
The five new measles cases in Maryland bring the state’s year-to-date total to nine. The state health department confirmed three cases in 2025, and one in each of the previous two years.
“All Marylanders should review potential exposure times, watch for symptoms, and confirm they are up to date on their measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccinations,” the health department said.
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© 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.
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