Physician in Nantucket yacht case held on $200,000 bail

A retired surgeon from Florida was ordered held on $200,000 bail Thursday after Nantucket officers allegedly recovered cocaine, ketamine, weapons, and ammunition from his yacht earlier this week. 

Scott Anthony Burke, 69, appeared in Plymouth District Courtroom for a detention listening to days after Nantucket police responded to his 80-foot vessel, the Jess Conn, for a medical help name. 

On Tuesday morning, authorities obtained a report of a girl on the yacht “who didn’t wish to be there, was beneath the affect of narcotics, and probably ha[d] overdosed,” in line with a press release of details filed in Nantucket District Courtroom.

The lady was in Burke’s bed room when officers arrived, “seemed to be beneath the affect of an unknown substance,” and instructed police she didn’t really feel secure, in line with the court docket submitting.

As the lady was given medical care and later taken to Nantucket Cottage Hospital, officers allegedly noticed a semi-automatic handgun on the yacht and a plastic bag containing a white powdery substance, in line with the assertion of details. 

Burke claimed possession of the firearms on the boat and pointed officers to a different gun, a brief barrel rifle, in line with the court docket doc. He reportedly instructed officers he had a license to hold, although police mentioned his Florida license expired in 2022.

After acquiring a search warrant, officers allegedly discovered greater than 43 grams of cocaine, greater than 14 grams of ketamine, a .38 pistol, and numerous ammunition on the boat, court docket information present. 

Burke, a Key Largo resident, was arrested and faces a slew of firearms and drug fees, together with fees of cocaine trafficking, possession of a Class A drug with intent to distribute, unlawful gun possession, and possession of a giant capability feeding system. 

He pleaded not responsible to all fees throughout his arraignment Wednesday. 

What Burke’s lawyer needed to say concerning the Nantucket yacht incident

Hank Brennan, Burke’s legal professional, mentioned Thursday that the lady on the middle of the medical name is a buddy of the yacht’s captain and had been employed to work onboard as a server, The Boston Globe reported. 

Brennan mentioned his consumer had greater than a dozen visitors on the yacht within the week main as much as Tuesday’s incident, together with these invited by crew members, in line with the Globe. When crew members left the yacht to attend a marriage final weekend, the lady requested if she might keep onboard for a few days till they returned, Brennan instructed the newspaper after the listening to. 

Burke agreed, and a “disgruntled ex-boyfriend” known as police as a result of he was upset the lady stayed on the yacht, Brennan reportedly defined. 

Based on the Globe, Brennan mentioned Burke was not conscious his gun license had expired, and maintained that his consumer doesn’t use or promote medication. 

“Another person utilizing medication on his boat isn’t a criminal offense,” Brennan instructed the Globe. 

In court docket, Brennan described Burke as a profitable surgeon and humanitarian who traveled to Haiti and Rwanda to supply medical companies and gave away “an unlimited portion” of his wealth by donations to high schools and scholarship applications, the Globe reported. 

Based on the Nantucket Present, Brennan additionally revealed that Burke is affected by terminal most cancers and sure doesn’t have lengthy to stay. 

“To have this man doubtlessly spend the remainder of his life ready for a case in jail, to me, can be very, very tragic,” Brennan mentioned, in line with the Present. 

He instructed the information outlet that he expects Burke to put up bail and return to Florida to be along with his household. 

Burke is due again in court docket Oct. 2 for a possible trigger listening to.