News Briefs
Middlefield Dentist Enters Plea
A Middlefield dentist has pleaded guilty to corrupting another with drugs, a second-degree felony.
Jeffery Becker
Jeffery J. Becker, 56, of 15402 High Pointe Circle, entered his plea before Geauga County Common Pleas Court Judge Carolyn Paschke on Feb. 10 and will be sentenced at 1:30 p.m. April 12.
As part of the plea agreement, Becker agreed to be responsible for restitution in the amount of $3,508, or any portion that is not paid by the Victims of Crime Fund.
Prosecutors agreed to dismiss all remaining counts at the time of sentencing and to recommend a residential community control sanction.
Becker faces a possible sentence of two to eight years in prison and a maximum fine of $15,000.
Becker was indicted last August for practicing dentistry after his license had been suspended and prescribing narcotics without a license.
According to the 10-count indictment, Becker committed his crimes after the Ohio State Dental Board had suspended his license on May 19, 2016, for failure to undergo an assessment for drug and alcohol impairment.
Geauga County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz previously explained Becker had sedated a patient, called in a prescription for another patient and accepted thousands of dollars in fees for dentistry services he was not authorized to provide.
Becker operated Dental Specialty Group, with offices in Huron and Geauga counties. In Middlefield, his office — which is now closed — was at 14982 S. State Ave.
When Becker’s license was suspended in May 2016, it was the second time in the last 10 years his license was suspended. In 2008, his license was suspended for practicing outside his declared specialty of periodontics.
Becker also had his license revoked in Wisconsin in 2013 for violating laws relating to controlled substances, practicing dentistry in a manner that created an unacceptable risk of harm to patients and administering improper doses of anesthetics.
On March 2, Middlefield residents Michael and Kathy Hartz filed a dental malpractice claim against Becker in Geauga County Common Pleas Court. His case was assigned to Paschke’s courtroom.
Michael Hartz was a patient of Becker’s from June 2015 through July 2016. He alleges, among other things, Becker practiced dentistry outside the scope of his license, administered sedation without a conscious sedation permit, failed to use proper materials and failed to provide necessary and appropriate care.
He is seeking damages in excess of $25,000.
Lakewood Couple Indicted for Burglary, Theft
A Geauga County grand jury handed down identical 17-count indictments against a Lakewood couple accused of a crime spree between Nov. 27, 2016, and Jan. 3, 2017.
Raymond Miller
Raymond A. Miller, 46, and Donna M. Miller, 48, of 1573 Lakewood Ave. Up, were both arrested Jan. 3 after an Auburn Township man saw Raymond on a security camera inside his Thorpe Road home and called 9-1-1.
At the time of his arrest, Raymond was out on parole for previous theft and burglary convictions.
The Millers have been charged with one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a first-degree felony; seven counts of burglary, second-degree felonies; four counts of theft, fifth-degree felonies; one count of breaking and entering, a fifth-degree felony; one count of attempted burglary, a third-degree felony; three counts of grand theft, felonies of the third and fourth degrees.
In addition to the Thorpe Road residence, prosecutors alleged they broke into homes on Dewey Road in Thompson Township, Haskins and Taylor May roads in Bainbridge Township, Hotchkiss Road in Burton Township, and Vermont Street in Lorain County.
Donna Miller
Authorities found stolen electronics, guns, cash, vacuum cleaners, jewelry and personal items inside their Lakewood apartment.
The Millers were both arraigned in Geauga County Common Pleas Court on March 3 and entered pleas of not guilty. Raymond’s bond was set at $100,000 cash or surety while Donna’s bond was set at $25,000 cash or surety. Both remain jailed at the Geauga County Safety Center.
Also indicted was Rebecca A. Bunch, 26, also of 1573 Lakewood Ave. Up. She has been charged with burglary and grand theft, felonies of the second and fourth degrees, respectively, in connection with the Dec. 9 break-in of the Hotchkiss Road residence.
Her indictment is being served at the Cuyahoga County Jail.
