Pubdate: Wed, 14 Jul 2004 Source: Macon Telegraph (GA) Copyright: 2004 The Macon Telegraph Publishing Company Contact: http://www.macontelegraph.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/667 Author: Bill Weaver Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/oxycontin.htm (Oxycontin/Oxycodone) PERRY DOCTOR NOW FACES SIX MURDER CHARGES PERRY - A Perry doctor accused last year of murder in the death of a Jesup man now faces six counts of murder, plus numerous drug charges, following his indictment Tuesday by a Houston County grand jury. Dr. Spurgeon Green, charged with one count of murder last August in Wayne County, is accused by Houston County authorities of six counts of felony murder, 24 counts of unlawful prescribing of a controlled substance and five counts of unlawful prescribing or ordering of a dangerous drug. The hometowns of the six people allegedly killed by Green were not spelled out in the indictment. Houston County District Attorney Kelly Burke said late Tuesday he could not immediately recall the locations of the people, but he said they were from various locations in Georgia. According to the indictment, their names were James Eugene Carr, Elmer Lee Teal Jr., Belinda Kay Maya, Melissa Marl Allen, Thomas Edward Bacigalupo and David Barbari. Barbari, of Jesup, is the person Green was accused of killing in Wayne County. Burke said he's been working with Wayne County authorities, and a judge will decide which county prosecutes Green for Barbari's death, which occurred in April 2003. The indictment accuses Green of unlawfully prescribing various drugs to the six people without a legitimate medical purpose, causing their deaths. The drugs varied from person to person, but included OxyContin, methadone and diazepam, as well as other drugs. Some were classified as controlled substances, others were merely called dangerous drugs. Several of the drug charges stem from additional prescriptions, on other dates, given to the same people who died. Other drug charges involve different individuals named in the indictment but not identified by address. Burke said the drug charges involve people from several locations in the Southeast, not just Georgia. The indictment alleges the crimes took place in 2001, 2002 and 2003. Burke said a jury would have to decide whether the medications Green allegedly prescribed illegally were excessive, or whether the individuals should have been getting the medications at all. He said the indictments "were the result of a very in-depth, thorough investigation, primarily by the (Houston County) sheriff's office, with assistance from other agencies." He called it a "very complicated" investigation. Green's state license to practice medicine was suspended three days after he was charged in Wayne County. A few weeks after his arrest there, Green was released from jail after posting a $250,000 bond. Green is a pain specialist who had been in private practice for nearly 30 years. Burke said that with Green's new indictments here, the physician will be rearrested. Burke said Tuesday evening that had not yet happened, but would happen soon. Green's attorney, O. Hale Almand Jr. of Macon, said when contacted at his home Tuesday evening that he was not aware of the additional charges against Green. "It's news to me," Almand said. He said he would have no comment until he investigated what had transpired. Burke said he had not yet made a decision about the type of penalty he would seek if Green is convicted of murder, but the death penalty is an option. "We've got that decision to make," he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Thunder