DOCTOR ENJOYED RESPECT OF PEERS

After Brence Sell was arrested on drug and bribery charges, he said his life
was over and begged detectives to kill him.

Local anesthesiologist Dr. Brence Sell, who was arrested Tuesday on charges
of growing marijuana and trying to bribe detectives, was denied bail Wednesday.

He has also been put on leave at Anesthesiology Associates, where he has
worked for 10 years, pending the outcome of the criminal investigation.

"We are very concerned regarding the allegations made against Dr. Sell,"
said Joseph Wilson, practice manager at Anesthesiology Associates. "While we
feel it would be premature to make any further comment on the situation
before all of the facts are established, we want to assure our surgery
patients that their safety remains our primary mission."

Anesthesiology Associates of Tallahassee, a professional group of 24
anesthesiologists, offers surgical services at all of the medical facilities
in the area.

Leon County sheriff's detectives said after Sell was arrested Tuesday
afternoon he asked them to kill him because his life had just ended. The
arresting deputy said Sell also asked if they would shoot him if he ran.

Sell had no previous criminal record and enjoyed the esteem of his peers.

"Sell has been a very good doctor and a well-respected member of the local
medical community," said Mollie Hill, executive director of the Capital
Medical Society. "We have seen no impact on his medical performance and he
is such an exceptional doctor, I would not have hesitated to have him as my
anesthesiologist. We will provide him with any support we can."

Sheriff's detectives said they received a tip Friday that Sell was growing
marijuana on the back porch of his apartment in the 1700 block of Hermitage
Boulevard. They said they discovered 36 marijuana plants after Sell gave
them permission to search. They said they also found more marijuana in his
bedroom, along with pipes, rolling papers and other drug paraphernalia.

Sell told detectives the plants did not belong to him but he had been caring
for them for someone named Rob. He later admitted to planting some of the
smaller plants, detectives said.

Sheriff's spokesman David Gilmore said it appeared Sell was growing
marijuana for his own use and not to sell.

Detectives said Sell set up a meeting with two detectives on Monday and
offered them $10,000 each to "lose the case." The detectives went along with
Sell and agreed to another meeting.

At 2 p.m. Tuesday, when Sell showed up at the parking lot of Beef O'Brady's
restaurant with a plastic Barnes & Noble bag with two envelopes containing
$10,000 each, detectives said he was arrested on charges of marijuana
cultivation and bribery of a public official.

Both charges are third-degree felonies, each carrying a maximum penalty of
five years in prison.

A native of Albany, Ga., Sell graduated from the Emory University School of
Medicine in 1981. He then completed a fellowship in neurosurgical anesthesia
at Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore.

He has been licensed to practice in Florida since 1988.

Noel Holton covers health and business issues. She can be reached at 599-2172.

Checked-by: Melodi Cornett