Oliver, Jablon Asked Judge for Leniency For Aaron Dock

Former Baltimore County Planning Board member Aaron Dock was sentenced to a year in jail last week but not before several county officials and well-known attorneys wrote letters asking for leniency in sentencing.

Councilman Ken Oliver and county Department of Permits, Approvals and Inspections Director Arnold Jablon and two well known development attorneys wrote letters on behalf of Dock. (Read the letters, which are attached to this post.)

Dock, an Owings Mills resident, was convicted in June of from two accounts operated by a fraternal organization that gives scholarships to African-American students.

Judge Patrick Stringer delayed sentencing at the time to allow Dock to attempt to repay the organization from which he stole.

Last week, Stringer sentenced Dock to 10 years in jail with all but one year suspended and ordered him to repay the organization nearly $170,000.

Before sentencing, Dock submitted letters from Oliver, Jablon, and local development attorneys Scott Barhight and Robert Hoffman.

Dock was appointed to the county planning board by Oliver and served on the councilman's campaigns in 2002, 2006 and 2010.

"I have seen many facets of Aaron's personality and professionalism," Oliver wrote in a letter on council letterhead. "I have dined with him, argued with him and laughed with him. I know him to be honorable and forthright in every professional and personal encounter that I have had with or had occasion to observe.

"Every person makes mistakes," Oliver wrote. "In pointed and frank conversation with me Aaron, he has shown sorrow and remorse for his poor decision. Nevertheless, Aaron has endured negative attacks on his honor but continuing to display great enthusiasm and initiative going beyond his call to stand for those who love him."

Jablon, Barhight and Hoffman, in their respective letters, praised Dock for his work on the planning board.

"Mr. Dock always treated me with respect and listened carefully," Jablon wrote. "I appreciated his patience and attention to detail."

The letters from Barhight and Hoffman expressed similar sentiments.

Dock was twice appointed by Oliver to the planning board to fill the position he left to run for the County Council. In an interview earlier this year, Oliver said Dock was removed from the board after he failed to attend 29 of 33 meetings during those two terms.