LAKE COUNTY — Authorities are trying to determine whether or not prescriptions found in the home of Lake County Tribal Health dental director Scott Clayton Wheadon, 49, were legally obtained. Wheadon was arrested Wednesday for charges of illegally obtaining prescription medications on numerous occasions during his 10 years as dental director.
Lake County Narcotic Task Force (LCNTF) contacted Wheadon at his office and simultaneously served a served a search warrant on his Kelseyville home. LCNTF commander Richard L. Russell said Friday that prescription drugs found during the search allegedly appeared to have been legitimately written for Wheadon by a physician, but were the same type as others he allegedly procured illegally.
“When people are addicted to prescription medications, the doctor often does not prescribe enough to get them ?high,” so they obtain the same medication in an unlawful manner to achieve the desired effect,” Russell said. “It appears that he (Wheadon) has a drug addiction that he was attempting to maintain through unlawful means.”
Patient medical records were also found at Wheadon”s home. “Tribal Health said he was not to be in possession of those outside the office,” Russell said. “He may well have been using them to get prescriptions illegally; that”s one thing we”re looking in to.”
Russell said that while the investigation is complete, LCNTF is also looking into documents and records found during the search and getting statements from employees.
Also found at Wheadon”s home were hunting and sporting rifles, a 9 mm pistol and a .38 pistol which were registered to him. Russell said having firearms in the commission of a felony is also a crime, but no firearms charges were brought against Wheadon during his arrest. “The investigating officer didn”t feel it was justified at this point,” Russell said.
Wheadon is also charged with first-degree burglary for allegedly obtaining the drugs illegally through his office and with possession of illegal fireworks including an M-800. He was taken into custody “without incident,” according to an LCNTF press release, booked into the Lake County Jail Wednesday and released on $15,000 bail. His booking sheet on the Lake County Sheriff”s Office Web site, www.lakesheriff.com, says he is due to appear in court on Jan. 14, 2008.
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