Use or distribution of illegal drugs does not always mean marijuana, cocaine and other so-called street drugs. State drug charges have been brought against a long-time physician for illegal distribution of classified drugs. The 71-year-old doctor has been extradited from Texas to another state where nine counts of homicide are also part of the arrest warrant.
Defense of these charges will be complex and require in-depth evaluation, discovery and presentation of evidence. According to the investigators, the man allegedly prescribed very large amounts of controlled substances to a high number of patients. Doctor-patient relationships and medical examinations were less than standard, according to reports. At least three of his patients died within a day of receiving their prescriptions from the defendant. Both federal and state investigators have seized medical records, prescription pads and notes, and patient charts pursuant to a search warrant affidavit.
While the investigation of the doctor’s activities has been ongoing for some time, his weeks in Texas are not under scrutiny at present. Originally held without bond in a local jail, the accused man has now been extradited to Oklahoma for the drug offenses and murder charges.
Narcotics, such as hydrocodone, oxycodone and Valium, were allegedly prescribed in quantities of up to 600 at a time. This type of information will be compiled as the district attorney plans exactly how the case will proceed.
In any type of arrest, once the case is built against a defendant, careful consideration can be given to the best ways to protect the rights of the accused, mount a defense, negotiate with a district attorney when appropriate and secure as positive an outcome as is possible.
Source: News-journal.com, “Doctor arrested in Kilgore extradited to face drug, homicide charges” Glenn Evans, Dec. 31, 2013