Mar 23, 2020
A Kentucky physician pleaded guilty to one count of wrongdoing for his involvement in unlawfully prescribing prescription pills through a pain management clinic. According to the Justice Department, several individuals used blank prescription pads signed by the doctor to provide the clinic’s patients with opioid pills. Reportedly, the doctor went on vacation and allowed others to give patients prescriptions without an examination.
While the physician faced a serious punishment of up to 20 years of incarceration, he entered into a plea deal. By doing so, he received a more lenient sentence, which included a $10,000 fine. After he accepted responsibility for his actions, the court sentenced him to home confinement over his charge of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances.
A sentence may not require jail time
Individuals faced with serious felony drug charges may require a strong legal defense to counter a prosecutor’s allegation. If avoiding a conviction is not possible, reducing the severity of a punishment may be a reasonable alternative.
The physician admitted to signing blank prescription pads and leaving them for others at the clinic to use. His defense was that he did it because the owner of the pain management clinic told him to do so. As reported by the Lexington Herald-Leader, the judge sentenced the physician to six months of home incarceration, which requires him to remain inside his house.
A plea bargain may help avoid or reduce severe penalties
By successfully negotiating a favorable plea bargain, the doctor was able to avoid a jail sentence. He may leave his residence to obtain emergency medical care, and if he must leave his home for any other reason, he must first receive permission from the court. After six months of home incarceration, his sentence of six months of home detention begins, which will allow him to leave his house so that he may go to work. He will, however, need to apply for a reinstatement of his suspended medical license after completing his home confinement sentence.
