Prosecuting attorney Rick Steiger told the Presque Isle County Board of Commissioners the charge against him is not true and is based on a biased investigation. He has no plans to step down from his office. He is up for reelection in 2012.
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In answer to a charge of “doctor shopping” leveled by Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette, Presque Isle County prosecutor Rick Steiger told the Presque Isle County Board of Commissioners he intends to fight the charges and stay in office.
Steiger was arraigned Wednesday in front of Judge Theodore Johnson in 88th District Court in Alpena charged with one count of obtaining a prescription for controlled substances from a health care provider by fraud. The felony charge carries a maximum four-year sentence.
The charge of “doctor shopping” comes as the result of a Huron Undercover Narcotics Team and Michigan State Police investigation into Steiger’s alleged activities of obtaining narcotics prescriptions from multiple physicians. He made his first public statement since his arraignment at the beginning of the regular board meeting Thursday.
“As everyone is aware, it has been a pretty rough week. I have been charged with a count of doctor shopping and it is not true. If it were true, I would have removed myself from office immediately,” Steiger told the board.
He said it has been a difficult week for his family making an emotional appeal to the board to not lose confidence in him as he fights the charge.
“You know me. You know who I am. We have worked together for years. We attend the same functions in the community,” Steiger said. “You know the person that I am. So without getting into the details about the case, I would like to point out that this is a biased investigation. But I am not going to allow this to affect my ability to serve the people of Presque Isle County.”
Board chairman Carl Altman praised his work as prosecutor.
This activity is a felony under Michigan law, which makes it a crime for a person to fraudulently obtain, or attempt to obtain, a controlled substance or a prescription for a controlled substance from a health care provider.
“The investigation found that prosecutor Steiger visited multiple physicians in northern Michigan and acquired numerous duplicative prescriptions for narcotic pain medications,” Tuesday’s press release from the attorney general’s office states. “A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.”
Steiger’s next court appearance would be for a preliminary examination, Jan. 11 at 2:30 p.m. He’s out on a $5,000 personal recognizance’s bond.
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