Former Rawlins doctor charged with multiple felonies
By Jim O’Reilly
A grand jury indicted former Rawlins doctor David Ray Cesko on multiple felony counts of illegally dispensing painkillers and amphetamines to patients, some of whom were under age 21.
At least one was pregnant, according to court documents. The 32-count indictment charges Cesko with distributing Schedule II substances, including oxycodone, hydrocodone, alprazolam, tramadol and amphetamine “without a legitimate medical purpose and outside the usual course of medical practice.”
The indictment includes the date the individual prescriptions were written, the number of pills prescribed and in the case of minors, the age of the person. The youngest was age 16. Over a one-month period between September and October of 2016, the indictment alleges that 117 pills of promethazine with codeine were prescribed to minors.
In 2017, the Wyoming Board of Medicine suspended Cesko’s license to practice medicine in the state, in part for prescribing cough medicine with codeine for two children without seeing or evaluating either patient. The complaint was filed by the children’s grandmother.
In the indictment handed down last Thursday, the charges for dispensing the controlled substances to persons under age 21 are punishable by up to 40 years in prison. The other charges carry 20-year maximum sentences.
If convicted on all counts, Cesko could face up to 860 years in prison and fines up to of $32 million dollars. The indictment says the government will seek to detain the defendant during the course of the trial. The case was assigned to Judge Scott Skavdahl.
Rawlins men arrested in Wamsutter burglary case
Two Rawlins men were arrested last week in connection to a string of burglaries in Wamsutter. The two men are accused of stealing more than $50,000 in property earlier this year. Cali O’Hare reports.
Suspects plead not guilty to drug charges in Elk Mountain snow plow incident
All three individuals who were arrested near Elk Mountain after a WYDOT snowplow struck a case full of cash have pleaded not guilty to several felony drug possession charges in Carbon County District Court. Two of the defendants appeared in court within the last few days. Emma Diercks reports.
State legislators urge Carbon County communities to solve issues on their own
Local lawmakers met with representatives of municipalities in the area last week during the Carbon County Council of Governments meeting. Cali O’Hare was there and filed this report.
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