Dentist Finder San Diego

Thomas McFarland, 61, of Wynnewood, PA, pleaded guilty to a fourth-degree charge of dumping medical debris from his practice into the waters near Avalon in summer 2008. The plea deal means McFarland will serve probation and pay the borough $100,000, but will avoid jail time.

According to court documents, in the summer of 2008, McFarland set off in boat from his waterfront home in Middle Township, near Avalon, into Townsends Inlet and dumped nearly 250 dental needles, capsules used to hold dental filling material, cotton swabs and other debris into the water.

Medical waste began washing up in Avalon the next day, prompting the borough to close the beach for five days. The subsequent cleanup of the beach cost more than $70,000.

Investigators were able to identify McFarland as the source of the medical waste by matching lot numbers on some of the items washed ashore with items purchased by McFarland.

On Sept. 2, 2008, McFarland went to the Avalon police and admitted dumping the dental waste. The state of Pennsylvania subsequently suspended his dental license.

He will be sentenced on April 30 in Cape May County Superior Court.