Wheatland druggist facing $2,000 fine

The California Board of Pharmacy has fined a Wheatland pharmacist for furnishing drugs without a prescription.

Richard Allan Hart, the pharmacist in charge at Village Pharmacy, violated the state Business and Professional Code on numerous occasions, including three times in early 2004, by furnishing dangerous drugs to patients without prescriptions, the board ruled.

Hart, reached Monday at the pharmacy, declined to comment on whether he will challenge the four citations, which carry a total of $2,000 in fines due by Feb. 11.

Hart was arrested in October 2004 and accused of selling narcotics to an informant working for the Yuba-Sutter Narcotics Enforcement Team. A year later, Yuba County District Attorney Pat McGrath dismissed the charges, saying the informant had misled drug investigators about his history with the pharmacy.

According to the board's citation, Hart furnished drugs to customers without prescriptions on numerous occasions. Board Executive Officer Patty Harris said that citation covered sales to the informant.

The fine for the improper sales was $1,500.

Hart also was fined $500 for not monitoring narcotic prescriptions or reporting them as required.

Hart was cited but not fined for two other offenses: failing to report within 30 days the theft of drugs in an Aug. 13, 2003, burglary, and failure to maintain records of the acquisition and disposition of drugs between Jan. 1, 2003, and Nov. 2, 2004.

Hart's arrest produced an outpouring of support for him from Wheatland residents, including a fundraising drive to help with legal expenses.

Appeal-Democrat reporter Rob Young can be reached at 749-4710. You may e-mail him at ryoung@appeal-democrat.com.