Dr. Rick Bucher, 60, is charged with seven counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs and two counts of trafficking in drugs. If convicted on all charges, he could face up to 22 years in prison.
Bucher waived his right to appear for arraignment on Monday before Judge Greg Stephens. His attorney, Christopher Pagan, entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.
A pre-trial hearing has been scheduled for Oct. 24.
ORIGINAL REPORT:
A doctor who practices family medicine in Oxford has been indicted on nine counts of drug trafficking by a Butler County grand jury.
Dr. Rick Bucher, 60, is facing charges that include seven counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs and two counts of trafficking in drugs. If convicted on all charges, he could face up to 22 years in prison.
Assistant Butler County Prosecutor David Kash said the alleged offenses occurred nine different times between Aug. 24, 2015, and Dec. 15, 2015, and that it involved one person.
“The doctor allegedly was not practicing medicine according to (state law),” Kash said.
He said the allegations, which also included the prescribing of medicine, were referred to the Butler County Prosecutor’s Office following an investigation by the Ohio State Medical Board. The case was presented to the grand jury, which issued direct indictments against Bucher, Kash said. He also said Bucher did not have any past criminal violations.
Tessie Pollock, state medical board communications director, said via email that there is a public discipline action but that all complaint and investigation information is confidential until a citation is issued by the medical board.
“In some instances criminal charges/complaints could lead to a faster or more severe action against the licensee than our investigation alone,” Pollock said in the email.
She said, “There would be nothing prohibiting a physician from practicing unless a citation/summary suspension were issued (by the state medical board.).”
Kash said Bucher is scheduled to be arraigned at 8:30 a.m. Monday in Butler County Common Pleas Court.
Bucher, who has practiced medicine for 34 years, has a family medicine practice at Oxford Family Medicine and is affiliated with McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital-TriHealth as well as other area hospitals. He holds a medical degree from the University of Cincinnati.
Bucher could not be reached for comment.
According to the State Medical Board’s website, Bucher’s license is active through July 1, 2017.
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