N.M. psychiatrist accused of unlawfully prescribing opioids sentenced for sexually abusing patients
04/01/2022 12:43 pm PDT
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (TCD) -- A 75-year-old former psychiatrist who pleaded guilty to unlawfully prescribing opioids was sentenced to seven years in prison for sexually abusing his patients.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico, from July 8, 2016, through April 5, 2019, Mark Beale treated patients in psychiatry. He reportedly issued prescriptions outside the practice without legitimate medical reasons and was indicted by a grand jury on June 23, 2021.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, on March 25, Beale pleaded guilty in federal court to unlawful dispensing and distributing of a schedule II controlled substance. As part of the plea, Beale admitted that he did not complete thorough medical, physical, or psychiatric evaluations, and did not properly document one of his patient's medical pasts, whom prosecutors identified as Jane Doe.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Beale admitted that he neglected to perform thorough tests, like urine drug screening. Beale failed to treat Jane Doe's opioid abuse and provide proper care. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Beale said he still continued to prescribe opioids.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Beale faces five years in prison for the plea deal.
Additionally, Beale was recently sentenced to seven years in prison for sexually abusing his patients, KRQE-TV reports. Beale reportedly abused nine patients, ranging in ages 21 and 60, starting in 2015. According to KRQE, In 2021, he pleaded guilty to two counts of rape and 12 counts of criminal sexual contact.
The five and seven year sentences would reportedly run concurrently. According to KRQE, once Beale is out of prison, he'll have to register as a sex offender.
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