PLEA BARGAIN OK'D FOR FORMER RED CROSS OFFICIAL

The former disaster chairman of the Utah County Chapter of the American Red Cross who earlier pleaded not guilty to a charge of unlawful practice of medicine has changed his plea to no contest in an agreement with Utah County prosecutors.

Darryl L. Barksdale, 36, was scheduled to stand trial on the third-degree felony charge on Sept. 26 but entered the no-contest plea a week before the trial date. Fourth District Judge Boyd L. Park then granted a motion by Barksdale's attorney to reduce the charge to a class A misdemeanor.Under the terms of the plea bargain, the plea will be held in abeyance for one year. If Barksdale is not charged with any similar offenses during that time, the plea will be withdrawn and the charge dismissed. However, Barksdale must pay $185 in fines and cannot work as an emergency medical technician or a medical instructor.

Barksdale was arrested in September 1993 while teaching a first-aid and CPR class in Orem. A court affidavit alleged that Barksdale practiced medicine without a license when he gave a Red Cross volunteer a pelvic examination in August 1990 to diagnose whether the woman was pregnant. The affidavit also said that Barksdale incorrectly claimed to be a licensed paramedic and certified by the Red Cross as a CPR instructor.

In his plea agreement with prosecutors, however, Barksdale admitted conducting the examination but said he never represented himself as a doctor, and the woman knew he was not a doctor.

Barksdale resigned as the local Red Cross disaster chairman in 1992 after being asked to step down by the board of directors. He remained with the organization as a volunteer until April 1993.