Prescription Forgery Charges Filed Against Psych Center CEO

Blue flashing sirens of police car during the roadblock in the cCLARION, Pa. (EYT) – Prescription forgery and related charges have been filed against the Chief Executive Officer of the Clarion Psychiatric Center.

Clarion County Chief Detective William H. Peck IV has filed the following charges against 40-year-old Robert G. Scheffler of DuBois:

  • Criminal Attempt – Acquire or Obtain Possession Of Controlled Substance by Misrepresentation, Felony
  • Criminal Attempt – Intentional Possession of Controlled Substance By Person Not Registered, Misdemeanor
  • Forgery – Unauthorized Act In Writing, Misdemeanor 1
  • Forgery – Utters Forged Writing, Misdemeanor 1

According to a criminal complaint filed on February 8 by Detective Peck, the investigation was initiated on January 12 after he received an anonymous tip that Robert Scheffler, CEO of Clarion Psychiatric Center, allegedly attempted to pass a forged Percocet prescription at a Monroe Township pharmacy.

On January 15, Detective Peck spoke with the pharmacy manager and obtained a copy of the original prescription. The prescription was dated January 7 and requested 30 Percocet pills. It was written on a pre-printed prescription issued by a doctor employed at the Clarion Psychiatric Center.

The pharmacy manager told Detective Peck that he immediately became suspicious because (the doctor listed on the prescription) doesn’t typically issue Percocet prescriptions.

According to the criminal complaint, the pharmacy manager then contacted the Clarion Psychiatric Center and spoke with the doctor who instructed the pharmacy manager to cancel the prescription.

The pharmacy manager told Detective Peck that he then informed the customer that the prescription would not be filled because it was cancelled by the doctor.

The pharmacy manager was able to identify the customer as Robert Scheffler after viewing a photo provided by Detective Peck. He also noted that Scheffler was wearing an ID badge on his shirt that said “CEO.”

Detective Peck also noted that identifying information on the prescription matched Scheffler’s PennDOT driver’s license information.

On January 28, Detective Peck and a member of the Pennsylvania State Police Troop C Vice Unit interviewed the doctor.

During the interview, the doctor stated that he did not issue the prescription and that the handwriting on it was not his.

On January 29, Detective Peck and a member of the Pennsylvania State Police Troop C Vice Unit interviewed Robert Scheffler at his office.

Scheffler told Detective Peck that he took the prescription to the pharmacy to have it filled. He also stated that the doctor “issued the prescription (for him) because he injured his back.”

Scheffler stated that he left the pharmacy after he was told that the prescription would not be filled. He then told Detective Peck that he contacted the doctor who then issued another prescription for Percocet and a muscle relaxer. He stated that the second prescription was filled at a another Clarion area pharmacy.

When questioned by investigators about why the doctor would cancel the prescription after writing it a short time later, Scheffler allegedly stated that “it must have been because (the doctor) wanted to add the muscle relaxer to the script.”

Detective Peck told Scheffler that he believed the prescription was forged, and when it was cancelled, he panicked and went back to the doctor and complained of pain in an attempt to get the doctor to issue a prescription.

Scheffler denied the claim and stated (the doctor) issued both of the prescriptions.

Later that afternoon, the doctor stated that he received several missed called from Scheffler.

The doctor contacted Scheffler, at which point, Scheffler allegedly stated that “he was sorry for what he did.”

Scheffler allegedly told the doctor that he took the blank prescription from a patient’s chart.

He also allegedly continued to apologize, telling the doctor that he “had a lack of judgement.”

Charges were subsequently filed at District Magistrate Timothy P. Schill’s office.

Bail was set at $50,000.00 unsecured.

He faces a preliminary hearing on February 23 before Judge Schill.

In a statement issued Tuesday, Clarion Psychiatric Center said the hospital “is cooperating with the authorities in their investigation and will continue to do so until its completion.”

“The hospital is fully operational with no disruption of services. Clarion Psychiatric Center remains committed to its mission of providing high quality mental health care programs and services that improve the overall health and well-being of its patients and their families.”

A “welcome message” from CEO Robert Scheffler on the Clarion Psychiatric Center’s website was removed on Tuesday.

Hospital officials were unable to confirm whether Scheffler was still employed by Clarion Psychiatric Center.


Copyright © 2024 EYT Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Any copying, redistribution or retransmission of the contents of this service without the express written consent of EYT Media Group, Inc. is expressly prohibited.

Comments are temporarily closed. A new and improved comments section will be added soon.