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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Doctor pleads not guilty to prescription charge

Advertiser Staff

A Kaua'i doctor pleaded not guilty today to federal charges of illegally prescribing pain-killing medication, but his lawyer said "substantially" more charges may be filed against his client.

Harold C. Spear III, 55, of Hanapepe, who has practiced medicine on Kaua'i for 25 years, was given a trial date of Aug. 14 by U.S. Magistrate Judge Leslie Kobayashi.

Spear's lawyer, Michael Green, said he intends to ask that the case be designated "complex" to give him more time to prepare the defense because it's anticipated that federal prosecutors will add more charges with another indictment.

Assistant U.S. Attorney William Shipley later said investigators obtained a "substantial" amount of new records when Spear was arrested June 1. He said if charges are "appropriate" based on what was recovered June 1 and earlier, they will take the case to the federal grand jury.

Spear currently is charged in a federal indictment with 20 felony counts of illegally prescribing methadone, Oxycontin and Oxycodone to various individuals 20 times in 2005 and 2006. He is free on a $50,000 signature bond on condition that he gives up his license to prescribe drugs.