Pubdate: Wed, 23 Jan 2002 Source: Fort Madison Daily Democrat (IA) Copyright: 2000 The Democrat Company Contact: http://www.dailydem.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1062 Author: Robin Delaney HELLING GETS 6.5 YEARS IN PRISON, $12,500 FINE DAVENPORT (AP) - A Fort Madison pharmacist convicted of filling forged prescriptions was sentenced Friday to 6 1/2 years in federal prison. Steve Helling, now 47, testified in U.S. District Court that he filled the prescriptions knowing some were forgeries. "I apologize to my family and friends," he said, promising he would never be in a situation of breaking the law again. There was sobbing from about 20 relatives and friends who showed up in his support. Helling voluntarily surrendered his pharmacy license after his conviction in August on charges of conspiring to distribute a controlled substance. He was also fined $12,500. Helling was sentenced Friday afternoon by U.S. District Judge Ronald Longstaff to 6.5 years in prison on each of the two counts with sentences to run concurrently. Helling's business, Helling Healthmart, closed in October with accounts being referred via a press release to the HyVee Pharmacy. Helling will remain free on bond so he can help place his 84-year-old father in a nursing home, Longstaff said. The judge acknowledged the ordeal had been a painful one for Helling and his family, but added, "But the bottom line is you were the one who had the power not to give the drugs." Helling could have been sentenced to a prison term of up to 20 years. A majority of Letters to the Editor published in the Daily Democrat and other area newspapers on the case have been in support of Helling, citing his reputation as a longtime active community member and businessman, and questioning the credibility of some of the prosecution's witnesses. Flyers were distributed by mail in the weeks following the guilty verdict urging Fort Madison residents to write letters to the federal judge in support of Helling and favoring a lighter sentence. Judge Lonstaff said he had received 400 to 500 letters from Fort Madison area residents in support of Helling. "Obviously, you are a good pharmacist. Ninty-five percent of your life was spent being positive," Longstaff said. "Unfortunately, there was a momentary dark side." Helling was convicted Aug. 21 on two federal counts of distributing prescriptions drugs by a federal jury in Davenport. Prosecutors alleged Helling knowingly filled forged prescriptions for three woman: Deborah Arnold, Leslie Greenslaugh and Laura Newell-Law, over a two-year period in exchanged for sex or cash. During the trial, prosecutors said the three women were addicted to pain killers. Arnold, 50, who is serving a federal prison sentence in Pekin, Ill., testified she visited Helling after store hours and presented him with forged prescriptions. She said when she wanted a forged prescription filled, she would call Helling's pager number and he would then call back and set up a time to meet at his pharmacy. Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement agent Ron Diest testified verifying a phone record showing Arnold made 176 telephone calls to Helling's pharmacy and two calls to Helling's home over a 22-month period. Under cross examination by Helling's attorney, Bill Kutmus of Des Moines, Arnold admitted she initially told authorities she did not have sexual relations with Helling, but said she lied to police to protect her terminally-ill father and to save herself from embarrassment. Greenslaugh testified she had sexual conduct with Helling in exchange his filling forged prescriptions for her. Newell-Law, labeled the "mastermind of the prescription conspiracy" by prosecutors, testified to the filling of forged prescriptions, but said she refused Helling's sexual advances. During closing arguments in the trial, Kutmus attacked the credibility of the three women and told the federal jury that by cooperating with prosecutors Newell-Law and Greenslaugh would likely receive reduced sentences in their cases. Both women pleaded guilty to charges of using forged or altered prescriptions. Gleenslaugh was sentenced Oct. 2 to 30 months in prison. Newwell--Law was sentenced Nov. 2 to 40 months in prison. Helling has maintained his innocence through the lengthy process, which began with his arrest Feb. 24, 2000 on 15 counts of delivering a schedule II controlled substance after an investigation by the Lee County Narcotics Task Force and an audit the Iowa State Board of Pharmacy Examiners. All 15 counts of the state charge were dismissed May 12, 2000 in North Lee County District Court with court documents citing a "deference to a pending federal prosecution." A federal grand jury in Davenport indicted Helling on March 14 on two federal counts of illegally distributing prescriptions drugs. During his trial last August, Helling testified he did not know Newell-Law or Greenslaugh, and denied ever having sexual relations with any of the three women. Helling said because of his diabetes he has been impotent several years. He testified his condition was diagnosed in 1995 and that his doctor was now deceased. Helling said his medical records could not be found. No medical confirmation from any other physician was offered at the trial. Helling's wife, Bernadette, offered testimony confirming her husband's physical condition. A local priest testified that he and Helling had discussed this medical condition in recent years. Helling's wife and two daughters also testified they often accompanied Helling to the pharmacy several evenings, indicating there were few opportunities allowing for the alleged sexual encounters with Arnold or Newell-Law.