BELLEFONTE – After eight days of testimony a jury deliberated for four-and-a-half hours in the case of Dr. Larry Adams.
Between the two cases tried, Adams was accused of:
-Eight counts of prescribing outside of accepted treatment principles.
-One count of criminal conspiracy to obtain possession of a controlled substance by misrepresentation or fraud.
-Five counts of dispensing or prescribing to a drug dependent person.
-Two counts of refusal to keep required records.
-Four counts of delivery of or possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.
-Three counts of obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresentation or fraud.
-Four counts of willful dispensing of a controlled substance.
-One count of criminal use of a communication facility.
-One count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.
-One count of criminal conspiracy to commit delivery of or possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.
The jury found Adams guilty on all charges.
Testimony throughout the eight days came from the confidential informant in the case, Joel Conway, nurses, experts and others.
Conway testified that Adams would write him pre scri ptions or give him pills to sell on the street. Conway said that he would then split the money with Adams.
Adams’ defense in the case has been that he was entrapped by Conway and attacked Conway’s credibility.
“This is a cunning, conniving man,” said defense attorney Robert Fogelnest.
“That’s the whole thing,” added Fogelnest. “Conway has used people, hustled people … now he’s trying to hustle you (the jury).”
Senior Deputy Attorney General Janice Martino-Gottshall noted that as of 2003, Adams took note that Conway was a drug addict. She stated that due to his ability to prescribe, Adams had control of Conway.
During his closing argument Fogelnest pointed to pre scri ption pads that Conway admitted to and was caught stealing. He noted that a number of pre scri ptions that were entered into evidence that had the drug Dilaudid spelled wrong. Fogelnest stated that it was Conway who wrote these pre scri ptions, not Adams.
Martina-Gottshall countered, pointing out that Adams spelled the drug wrong in Conway’s medical record on multiple occasions.
She also pointed out that while Adams cooperated with police, he did not mention coercion on Conway’s part.
“He acknowledged he accepted money.”
After Adams was found guilty arguments were heard on his bail condition. Adams’ prior bail was set an unsecured amount.
“Now that there is a conviction circumstances are different,” said Senior Deputy Attorney General Larry Cherba.
Cherba noted that a preliminary figure had Adams doing three, three year minimums in prison.
“He has substantial ties in the community,” countered Fogelnest. “Where’s he going to go?”
“I have some concerns,” said the Honorable Bradley Lunsford. “Mr. Cherba is just touching the tip of the sentencing. I can’t in good conscience set the same type of bail.”
Lunsford set Adams’ bail at $300,000 straight between the two cases. Adams was then remanded to Centre County Jail. He is scheduled to be sentenced within the next four-to-five weeks.