Ex-optometrist gets probation

A former optometrist who lost his license and pleaded guilty to forging prescriptions and illegally possessing a controlled substance was sentenced to 36 months probation Monday.

Rick Robison, 43, was sentenced to 0-5 years in prison, but 3rd District Court Judge Paul Maughan suspended the sentence and imposed probation.

Robison in March pleaded guilty to two counts of forging prescriptions and one count of possession of a controlled substance, all third-degree felonies. Charges of illegal drug possession and unlawful professional conduct were dismissed.

"He understands he is a drug addict. He understands he cannot have any more offenses. He is committed to a program of assisting others," said Larry Keller, Robison's attorney.

Keller said Robison already has done 240 hours of community service without being ordered to do so by a court.

Prosecutor Howard Lemcke noted that Robison has lost his license and cannot legally write prescriptions anymore.

Robison has sold his practice and now works with a wilderness program where he previously had done volunteer work. "I accept full responsibility for what I did," Robison said.

Court documents state that Robison on Feb. 19, 2000, forged a doctor's name on a Lortab prescription for an employee at his Murray eye-care practice after she said she had a headache. She later heard from Robison that he had taken "his share" of the pills from her pharmacy bag, court documents say.

Robison was arrested by Drug Enforcement Administration agents on April 20, 2000, after he gave someone three prescriptions for Lortab, Soma and Zovirax with the forged name of another doctor, took a portion of the pills and paid for them in the parking lot, according to court documents.

Court documents state that Robison admitted wrongdoing to law-enforcement officials at that time and told them he was a drug addict.

---

E-MAIL: lindat@desnews.com