Pubdate: Tue, 26 Mar 2002
Source: Pensacola News Journal (FL)
Copyright: 2002 The Pensacola News Journal
Contact:  http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1675
Author: Monica Scandlen

GRAVES CASE ADDS UP FOR SANTA ROSA

Prosecution, Defense Costs Nearly $400,000

The trial of Dr. James Graves has cost Santa Rosa County taxpayers almost 
$400,000 - and the bills are still coming in.

Newly released court documents show the defense spent $295,205.21 and the 
prosecution about $84,550.73, for a total of $379,755.94.

This is the county's most expensive trial ever, Santa Rosa County Attorney 
Tom Dannheisser said.

"I can't remember anything that's been over $100,000," he said. "I've never 
seen a case that involves so many medical experts."

Graves, 55, was sentenced Friday to 63 years in prison. The Pace doctor was 
convicted Feb. 19 of manslaughter, racketeering and unlawful delivery of a 
controlled substance. A jury found he so recklessly prescribed a 
combination of drugs, including OxyContin, that he is responsible for the 
overdose deaths of four patients.

The prosecution claims Graves made about $500,000 a year from September 
1998 to June 2000, the two years he ran his Milton pain management office.

Taxpayers had to pay for Graves' defense because he could not afford to 
hire attorneys. Two private defense attorneys were appointed to represent 
him because the public defender's office said there was a conflict of 
interest: It represented many of the prosecution's witnesses in other cases.

Graves told the News Journal he never has been wealthy. All the money he 
earned went into his offices in Milton and Brewton, Ala. The rest he used 
to support his family and church charities.

Defense attorneys Ed Ellis and Mike Gibson said the complicated case 
required several expert witnesses, who are expensive to hire. Even before 
the trial began, they had to interview, under oath, hundreds of witnesses.

The attorneys said they were paid the county rate of $60 an hour for 
in-court fees and $40 an hour for out-of-court time.

"There's no question there was a lot of money spent on the defense in this 
case," Ellis said. "But the people who got paid the least are the attorneys."

What's next? Taxpayers likely will end up paying even more for Dr. James 
Graves' defense because he plans to appeal his conviction. He also faces 
additional Medicaid fraud charges.
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