FORMER DOCTOR PLEADS GUILTY TO FELONY DRUG CHARGE

CANTON - A Gouverneur woman who was one of three doctors implicated by an investigation into alleged overprescribing of prescription narcotics in St. Lawrence County pleaded guilty Tuesday in County Court. Dr. Gail DeHart, 53, pleaded guilty to attempted criminal sale of a prescription of a controlled substance, a felony that carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison. She entered the guilty plea under the terms of a plea agreement that calls for her to be sentenced Feb. 6 to probation. Represented by attorney Edward Z. Menkin, Syracuse, Dr. DeHart admitted prescribing methadone, a synthetic narcotic often used in the treatment of heroin addiction, to her daughter, Anastassia I. DeHart, four times between May 2004 and Sept. 14 2004. Dr. DeHart lacked required permission from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration to legally prescribe methadone and admitted under questioning by County Judge Jerome J. Richards that doing so was inappropriate medically. "Did she have some drug problem?" the judge asked. "Yes, sir. Excessive use of cannabis or marijuana," Dr. DeHart said. "It is my understanding that methadone is not a drug that is recommended to treat a cannabis issue. Would you agree?" the judge asked. "It was my understanding it could be used to treat any substance-abuse problem. I have subsequently learned that was incorrect," Dr. DeHart said. Prescribing methadone to her daughter "was outside the scope of appropriate medical practice," according to Mr. Menkin. As part of Dr. DeHart's plea agreement, acting District Attorney Gary W. Miles agreed not to persecute Anastassia DeHart. The doctor's guilty plea satisfied any charges arising from activities by Dr. DeHart before her arrest on May 18, he said. Jailed after her arrest in May, Dr. DeHart was released under probation supervision after agreeing to stop practicing medicine while the criminal case against her was pending. Since then the state Health Department's Office of Professional Medical Conduct has begun disciplinary proceedings against her. "It's clear this proceeding will serve as the basis for termination of her license," Mr. Menkin said. He said she plans to surrender her license before that happens. Dr. DeHart was one of three physicians targeted during a long running investigation by state police and the DEA. Dr. Charles A. Locke, Gouverneur, agreed in June to close his practice and give up his license in return for a promise that he would not be prosecuted. Dr. James L. Latimer, Madrid, did the same in September. Dr. DeHart's former office manager, Joan A. Kingdon, 50, Gouverneur, and Larry L. Ames, 45, Harrisville, who were both arrested in May in connection with charges stemming from the investigation, both pleaded guilty to felony drug possession during County Court appearances on Nov. 22. Both are to be sentenced Jan. 3.