Doctor who traded sex for drugs gets jail term

AMERICAN FORK — The case of a Salem doctor charged with trading drugs for sexual favors is a tragic case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, prosecutors said Tuesday.

"It's a sad situation," prosecutor Alex Ludlow said at the sentencing for Max Kent Cannon, a former general physician. "(He's) an individual who had a great deal going for him ... seemed to be doing so well, but then he did these atrocious actions."

Cannon was arrested last January after police caught him, through a sting operation, trading prescription medicines for sexual favors with former patients.

In October, Cannon took a deal and pleaded guilty to two third-degree felonies of distribution of a controlled substance and two class B misdemeanors of prostitution in exchange for prosecutors dropping similar misdemeanor and felony charges.

Tuesday morning he was sentenced to 120 days in jail, 36 months of probation, sex-offender specific counseling and court fines and fees.

The sentencing had been continued from December to allow the judge time to read several reports requested by Cannon's attorney, Earl Xaiz, including a psycho-sexual evaluation, a psychological evaluation and two psychiatric updates.

They informed the judge that for years, Cannon had been dealing with a bipolar disorder which had never been properly treated and which caused manic episodes, Xaiz said.

"I met him right after he got out of jail and he wasn't medicated," Xaiz said. "Comparing him then to now, it's a pretty amazing difference in terms of the way he behaves."

Xaiz said his client was "disgusted" with his criminal behavior, frustrated with how it has affected his family and has continued to want to take responsibility.

As part of the plea deal, prosecutors agreed not to ask for prison, but did request jail.

The case was most concerning for Ludlow because there were several victims, and because as a doctor, Cannon should have had the higher level of responsibility, Ludlow said.

However, Ludlow also noticed Cannon's level of accountability throughout the case.

"He certainly seemed to step up, and by and large, take responsibility," he said.

Cannon, as an independent physician, previously had privileges to work at Mountain View Hospital in Payson and Utah Valley Regional Medical Center, but those rights were suspended when charges were filed.

Cannon's medical license expired in February 2008 and a subsequent emergency hearing by the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing denied Cannon the chance to renew his license.

He never appealed that decision, DOPL officials said.

E-mail: sisraelsen@desnews.com