Pubdate: Wed, 19 Apr 2006 Source: Daily Press (Newport News,VA) Copyright: 2006 The Daily Press Contact: http://www.dailypress.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/585 Author: Associated Press Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n529/a01.html Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n122/a11.html DOCTOR SENTENCED FOR ILLEGALLY DISPENSING NARCOTICS NORFOLK, Va. -- A Chesapeake orthopedic surgeon was sentenced Wednesday in U.S. District Court to seven years and three months in prison for illegally dispensing narcotics to patients. Sidney Loxley was also sentenced to three years supervised release and ordered him to participate in a substance abuse program. Loxley will also forfeit more than $497,000 in assets to the government. The 63-year-old entered an Alford plea--not admitting guilt, but acknowledging there is enough evidence for a conviction--last December to a single count of conspiracy to dispense narcotics outside the bounds of legitimate medical practice. Loxley had faced more than 90 counts, including charges of drug trafficking that resulted in the deaths of four patients. He could have faced up to life in prison. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman