Pediatric dentist in Layton arrested in drug case

A pediatric dentist in Layton was arrested Thursday by the Drug Enforcement Administration for investigation of ecstasy possession.

Dr. Sherman Dale Hibbert, D.D.S., 45, who lives in North Salt Lake, was booked into the Davis County Jail Thursday night. When agents arrived at his house with a search warrant, he had just taken two ecstasy pills and had more in his pocket, said DEA spokesman Michael Root.

A search of his house revealed even more ecstasy pills, he said, some of them just laying on the floor.

Because of Hibbert's position as a dentist and the fact he has a license to posses and distribute legal controlled substances, agents were continuing their investigation Friday into whether he used any prescription narcotics from his office illegally, Root said.

It was still under investigation Friday whether Hibbert's patients were affected by his ecstasy use or if he took ecstasy while on the job. Even if he hadn't, Root said that ecstasy was a drug that stays in a person's system a long time as he noted the two pills the dentist took Thursday night.

The investigation started after the DEA received a tip from a female acquaintance of Hibbert. The woman was not a patient or employee of the dentist's office, Root said.

Hibbert, former president of the Utah Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, was sentenced to six months home detention and three years probation in 2004 for filing a false business income tax return. Hibbert admitted that he deducted $130,000 in fictitious expenses for consulting services paid to a Nevada corporation, which Hibbert established to receive the funds.

Hibbert also established two other Nevada and three West Indies corporations which totaled about $720,000 in false tax deductions.

A check of Utah court records shows Hibbert has had a number of traffic violations in recent years, including driving 94 in a 65 mph zone.

In January, North Salt Lake police were called to Hibbert's house on a report of a baby not breathing. The child died, but the incident was not considered suspicious as the baby had had previous health problems, according to North Salt Lake police. The child was related to Hibbert but not his son or grandson, according to police.

The DEA said Friday it would look at that case again as a precaution. Raising the concern level of agents was the fact ecstasy pills were found on Hibbert's floor, where a child or infant could find them, Root said.

Root's office in Layton, Pediatric Dentistry, 2112 N. Hillfield Road, had no comment Friday.

Neighbors reported to the DEA that Hibbert, who lived by himself, liked to host parties, frequently had female guests at his house and at other times would just disappear for a week, Root said.

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