Former trooper pleads guilty in prescription fraud case
Originally published Wednesday, August 27, 2008 at 6:34 p.m.
Updated Wednesday, August 27, 2008 at 11:58 p.m.
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Stumble It!FAIRBANKS — A former Alaska State Trooper pleaded guilty to one count of falsifying business records Wednesday.
Scott Ide, 44, who was accused of falsifying prescriptions for narcotics earlier this year while stationed as a trooper in Fairbanks, received an 18-month suspended sentence.
He also was fined $500 and placed on probation.
While on probation, he has agreed not to apply for or accept work as a peace officer in Alaska.
Ide had been on paid suspension, but was no longer employed by the Alaska Department of Public Safety as of Wednesday.
Members of the Drug Enforcement Agency first became suspicious of Ide in April when they received a call from a doctor in Palmer who reported four forged prescriptions for narcotics, including percocet and methadone, had been made out to Ide between late January and early April.
Ide admitted to falsifying the prescriptions when he was questioned by investigators, claiming the pills were necessary for injuries he suffered while serving in the Army between 1984 and 2004, according to court records.
He told investigators that he first injured his back in 1987 when his parachute collapsed during training and he fell 80 feet to the ground.
He claimed to have aggravated the injury further in 1991 while serving in the Gulf War when he jumped out of a truck with a rucksack weighing more than 100 pounds.
He claimed that pain from his injuries gradually increased throughout the years.
Ide had no previous criminal history and was not subjected to any disciplinary action during his four-year tenure with the troopers.
Community Discussion
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All Law enforcement workers should have mandatory drug test,along with court system workers. All the construction workers are required to,along with many other crafts & workers.What makes Law Enforcement so "SPECIAL" that they are not required to do the same???
They do have pre hire and then random as well as on demand
If he had a prescription for it, it would explain a positive test.
Did he forge a complete prescription or alter the quantity of a legitmate prescription?
I figured they'd give him a medal for ingenuity. Tasering kids and poaching moose is fine, why not forging prescriptions?
18-month suspended sentence and was fined $500 for a felony?
Shameful abuse of laws for a trooper representing the AST.
Trooper Scott Ide pleaded guilty, on a consolidated felony count of falsification of a doctor's business records thru his use of a prescription pad.
Scott Ide received preferential treatment beyond all standards of acceptablity.This is beyond scandalis, it's a poor example on a sentence of a guilty plea on drug abuse charges and theft.
Scott Ide should have been an example of drug abuse use, thru the use of 4 filled and 1 failed attempt from a stolen Doctor's prescription pads.
Scott Ide did this with No regard to the doctor or what could of happened to the doctor legally or professionally... Doctor's prescriptions for pain killers are tracked by the Feds and our state.
This sentence did not send a message of anti-drug abuse or theft, it is a silent acceptance of illegal drug prescription abuse. Perception
of acceptance of illegal behavior by AST is becoming degrading on a down hill slide for this to follow all the publicity of Wooten. This decision reflects negativity on AST again.
Just what message are we sending to our youth?????
Another trooper shines.Good job.
P_Davenport
Remember, the DA decides what charges to bring forth and makes all plea deals. The Troopers (or any other agency) had nothing to do with his final disposition, that was the DA and the Judge
We should all ask ourselves, What sentence would I have received?
I think the obvious is shown here, There is special treatment for law enforcment officiers in this state. I would also state that all of trooper Ide's cases over his tenure should be reviewed as he has shown his good word is now in doubt, wonder if anyone is actually sitting in jail because of his actions?? Maybe he lied about something else in the past??Or forged a court document , these things should be investigated as well?
injury serving in the army my a**, pill poppin junkie. your ak state peace officers at their finest.
hahahahaha - A campaigner came to my door and asked me, "what would you like my candidate to do for your vote" I replied "Deal with corroption in the AST!!!!" The campaigner smiled and walked off. This is another example of abuse of power and preferential treatment. I know a trooper who was dumped by a girl and he subsequently harrassed and arrested her new boyfriend for over a year. Six or seven people witnessed various events and submitted a complaint against the trooper and nothing came out of it. They said they lost the paperwork. Typical. But oh well, atleast this made the news.
why was he not charged with a drug crime? I have seen similar cases where the people or persons were charged with misconduct involving a controlled substance, a felony and sentenced to serve jail time, not allowed to walk away free.
It is a shame.. Law Enforcement officers really should be held to higher standards than this. The trend should be to penalize them more harshly for breaking the law, AND the public trust, not just slapping their wrists.
Obviously, there needs to me more deterrent for preventing law enforcement personnel from breaking the law, as well as more encouragement for turning those who do break the law, in.
In the end, I'm just glad he was caught before an incident occurred while he was high on the job.
What did you expect? The primaries just proved that Alaska rewards criminals...
P-Davenport,
While I do not condone Ide's actions his sentence is a substantial one. Ide wasn't selling the drugs to someone else. You should follow more closely what the DA actually hands out to the REAL drug dealers. They aren't that stiff.
MatthewErickson,
LEOs are held to a higher standard. It just isn't always publicized. One bad apple spoils the bunch. Most Troopers are law abiding honorable citizens who do a thankless job. The public is quick to condem and criticize but seldom are our LEOs praised in public. A good yearly eval and a miniscule cost of living raise occasionally is the best they can get.
Again I do not condone Ide's actions but don't condem the entire Dept. for the actions of a few. remember AST investigated and forwarded a case to the DA of one of there own. How many of you would have the integrity to do the same to one of your friends or co-workers?
He should have been punished way worse. He should have also been charged with theft for stealing the prescription pad. They changed it allt o forgery of business records so the punishment fits the crime on paper.
It's sad, I have thought about trying to join the AST for a cpl years now but I just don't I'll fit in. I mean considering I don't lie allt heime, do drugs, steal stuff, forge paperwork, tase kids, or drive drunk. So maybe I wont do it.
hckywtchr 8/27/2008, 8:37 p.m.
Yes the DA decides what charges to bring forth and makes all plea deals. But the Troopers had a written report, that enfluenced the DA and the Judge. All crimal cases have a written report done by Troopers, the way those reports are written, the contents have direct enfluence to any DA and any Judge. What I'm saying not all written reports are as complete on all possible charges. Such as usage on the job, driving a AST car or other chargers, not just filling 4 forged prescriptions for pain killers.
fairbanksbornandraised 8/27/2008, 11:15 p.m.
"While I do not condone Ide's actions his sentence is a substantial one. Ide wasn't selling the drugs to someone else. You should follow more closely what the DA actually hands out to the REAL drug dealers. They aren't that stiff"
"Ide wasn't selling the drugs to someone else" is a unknown fact that was not addressed.
I do follow closely what the DA actually hands out to the REAL drug dealers. Look at Anchorage or Juneau as well. They weren't that stiff on those either or locally here. That's why it upsets me so much how lightly drug abuse is taken in court by professional role models that we teach our children to respect. His sentence is not a substantial one, for sole reason he was a Trooper during his crime. His actions disgraced the Troopers as role models. Trooper Scott Ide took an oath.
Where was his outstanding role modeling as a trooper for drug free kids? Where is the message to be drug free to our local kids; who watch things more closely than you may think and weigh thier odds of getting caught and if caught at what price. By what they see. Monkey see monkey do sometimes with youth. It's a silent approval, unless it's hard street drugs then a lil stiffer but not much.
Drugs in this town is hurting and distorying many of our youth thru trying substances or regular use of substances. We need good role models in professions we teach our children to trust. It's that simple to me.
hckywtchr 8/27/2008, 8:37 p.m
fairbanksbornandraised 8/27/2008, 11:15 p.m.
I need to be honest with you. There is several reasons I'm outspoken at times about drugs and postitive professional role models such as ex-Trooper Scott Ide, Trooper Wooten. I buried my #2 son also a LEO, who also took the same oath as ex-Trooper Scott Ide and Trooper Wooten. He died in his fight against drugs and all great things that LEOs stand for to our community. My #2 son was proud to be a LEO, I'm proud to have had the honour of being his parent. Protect and Serve and Respect.
I need to be honest with you on another reason; I'm outspoken at times about youth in gangs on here. I retired after 20 years in a career of prevention of gangs in one of the largest school districts in the nation. I've had first hand experience of youth gang shootings & drug abuses. I have even got a stray bullet in my leg as I layed on top of 2 children as gun fire was exchanged between gangs. Years ago I moved back here to raise my children & adopted 4 more here, a total of 7. To find out that gangs and drugs here with the youth was just as bad but mainly ignored and denied. I also had my children involved in Youth Court till 18 1/2 old so they could see first had what a bad choice can result in. The wonderful amount of Postitive professional role models in this town is awesome that I have met, and across Alaska while keeping 7 busy. We taught all 7 to respect and trust LEOs. Postitive professional role models are effective in influencing thru contact with youth. And our local youth needs help so much. Youth are our future, so I'm outspoken when I see wrong. I speak out when I see good done.
I don't ever intend to be anti-LEOs, just pro-postitive professional role models. But a wrong is a wrong. I understand he had injuries, but self medicating was a not benefit to his prior injury, or his self, or his career, or his role modeling of a LEO.
Please excuse my outspokeness if I offend you ever.
Ha! Ha! When will you learn comrades? One set of rules for us civlians and one set of rules for government employees.
P_Davenport,
I'm not offended at all. Your opinions are as valid as mine or anyone elses. I too am disgusted at aal of the crime that is prevalent in my home town and largley ignored. Many of the plea deal handed out by the DAs office disgust me to no end. More people need to get up in arms about a lack of prosecution of serious crimes (and the minor ones that lead up to them).
I also agree that positive adult role models are needed. Someone with your experience and background could have a very large impact if used correctly. That is something that this community needs urgently.
Unfortunatly, bad news sells and good news gets lost in the mail. It is a rare occasion that the Newsminer (or any other media outlet)reports on the good things that our local LEOs do on a regular basis.
I'm sure AST would love to have all of us who think we can do it better.
Start the change: www.alaskastatetrooper.com
I'm sure they're waiting for the few fine individuals writing here to fill their ranks.
>>Scott Ide received preferential treatment beyond all standards of acceptablity.This is beyond scandalis, it's a poor example on a sentence of a guilty plea on drug abuse charges and theft.<<
Wow, you guys have lost touch with reality. This is par for the course in first time felonies. This is called a suspended imposition of sentence (SIS), with long probation period for the "rehabilitation" part of the sentence. The judge obviously determined Ide to be of minimal risk to public safety, and didn't want to stack him like cordwood in the FCC gym, as FCC is already about 60% over emergency capacity levels.
This is not at ALL preferential treatment for Ide because he's an LEO, this is the state of public safety in Alaska. If you don't like it, pull out your wallet and fund the system. Otherwise, get educated about what is happening out there.
And yes, I agree he should have done some jail time, but there are a thousand ahead of him that got the same treatment, should he be treated harsher than they?
-- I think most people here are reacting badly to an already bad situation. Sure, it is easy to point out the hypocrisy of an AST who is using prescription drugs to the point of abuse. I think the real message here is that anyone, trooper, judge, doctor, lawyer, might be using a drug. If someone actually has a problem, we should be pursuing ways to help these individuals. The current system prefers to avoid rehabilitation, opting instead for punishments that shadow an individual for life.
-- Regardless of his punishment, I hope former trooper Ide will reflect on his actions and consider that almost every person self-medicates in one way or another. Here in Alaska we throw meth addicts in prison and they just repeat their actions upon release. Pot users, while enjoying a status above most other states in the union are still targeted. I see prescription drug addicts as victims of our designer-drug culture. I personally wish him well in the future and hope he considers joining Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP).
ASK YOUR DOCTOR: When he/she writes you a perscription for pain it goes into a national data base. The powers that be track perscriptions.
THAT IS WHY DOCTORS are afraid to give out pain medication. The AMA did a study on Americans under medicated when it comes to pain medication. Just another example of the GOV knows best.
YOU can have your dog or cat put down when life is not worth living.
YOU however, when life is not worth living will suffer the PAIN and you will like it......
Regardless of WHO you are or what your profession......everyone that is charged with drug theft/forgery or what have you should receive the same treatment. Just because you were a trooper doesn't mean that you are any less of an addict and should be punished for your wrong doing! It should be equal across the board in a perfect world but this is far from a perfect world. Alaska is built on who you know
"This is called a suspended imposition of sentence (SIS), with long probation period for the "rehabilitation" part of the sentence".
I didn't see where it stated how long his probation is. Did I miss that part?
Definitely LEO's always receive less or no punishment and when they commit perjury they are never disciplined. They have a green light on that crime. No I don't want to do their job but if that is their chosen profession, they should do it right.
I think it was Palin again....shes out to get the troopers. Its no wonder she wanted to clean house.
Rush Limbaugh,didn't do time either.(granted he wasn't a trooper)But......?
What does that mean can't apply to be a law enforcement officer again until he is off probation?? Is he or is he not a felon? Can he or can he not own a gun?
I would argue that the statements made by Ide show that he is in fact an addict. He claimed to have been injured while on active duty, however if that were true--and he needed pain killers--then why was his doctor not prescribing them. All of the military I know get free medical and since the injuries were alleged to have been received in the line of duty, the military is obligated to provide medical care.
It is also crystal clear that he is receiving preferential treatment by the conditions of his probation. He was convicted of a felony, regardless of his sentencing, he is now a felon. Yet they specifically state that he could reapply to be a trooper/police after his probation is up. How would it even be possible to consider if he is no longer allowed to own or be in the presence of a firearm?
A quick search through the news archives reveals many similar cases of prescription fraud for personal use, however a suspended sentence seems to be absent from any that involve a private citizen. Even the charges that were brought, as stated by another reader, show preferential treatment.
The police are only held to a higher standard by those who put them on a pedestal and believe incorrectly that cops are somehow better than they are. In reality a LEO is still just a person, capable of lying, stealing, and making decisions as stupid as any one else. However, due to the position they are in and the responsibility they are charged with, they should be dealt punishments more severe than the "average joe". When a cop commits a crime they violate more than the immediate law that applies.
As for the remark about "a few bad apples" I would counter that there are a few "good" apples. Ask any person who has had any exposure to law enforcement and you will undoubtedly be regaled with tails of underhandedness and dishonesty, as well as a "god" complex, more often than you will hear of fairness and integrity. While you may argue that those who deal with the law will always have bad things to say because they were doing wrong, you would be incorrect since the stories I speak of come from those who sought out the police for help as well.
On a side note, Fairbanksbornandraised, your logic is flawed when you stated, "Your opinions are as valid as mine or anyone elses." Unless the issue is purely subjective, one opinion is right and one is wrong. Perhaps you meant to say that you respect their right to voice their opinion.
P_Davenport: You eluded to the fact that you were an educator of sorts, please refresh your grammar skils and use a spell checker. Your posts have become increasingly difficult to read and follow.
Glad to see some truth getting into this discussion...
Doesn't the State of Alaska have a policy, like most companies, that if they are 'aware' and it is brought to the attention of supervisor, HR department, of any drug/alcohol problems, that help/prevention whether counseling, in/out treatments be offered? With the union backing Ide in his 'rights' to this part of employment, would it stand to reason that it played a part in the final outcome? Also, would it play a part in his being able to return or apply to AST after probation? Curious.
WITH ALL OF HIS PAIN AND INJURIES, WHY WOULD THE STATE HIRE HIM?
HOW DID HE PASS HIS trooper PHYSICAL AND WHY WASN'T HIS PAIN NOTICED?
DID THE STATE FALSIFY HIS PHYSICAL? HE WOULD SURELY HAD BROUGHT THIS UP.
THE STATE IS PARTIALLY GUILTY FOR THIS MAN'S CONDITION, BY NOT
RECOGNIZING HIS PAIN, but CONDONING IT. HE NEEDS HELP, BOTH
PHYSICAL AND FINANCIAL.
YOU JUST CAN'T THROW HIM TO THE DOGS AND WALK AWAY,
FROM A PROBLEM THAT THE STATE EXASPERATED.
WHY DIDn't HE JUST GO TO A DOCTOR AND ASK FOR HELP AND WHY
NOT THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION?
THE STATE GAVE THIS MAN A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH when
they recruited him; OTHERWISE HE WOULDN'T HAVE BECOME A TROOPER AND
I'M SURE THEY GIVE THEIR TROOPERS DRUG TEST.
HOW DID THIS MAN GET THROUGH THE NET; WITHOUT, BEING NOTICE?
THE STATE IS GUILTY OF NEGLIGENCE AND SHOULD PUT THE MAN OUT ON MEDICAL PAY.
Burke: It doesn't work like that. The only way the state would be liable for his medical bills is if he had exacerbated his injury while on duty, and even then they would not be fully liable.
Also, netiquette dictates that using the caps key in a post is the equivalent to shouting. Please refrain from shouting, it not only makes you hard to understand, it is considered rude.
Bornnbred - "Also, netiquette dictates that using the caps key in a post is the equivalent to shouting. Please refrain from shouting, it not only makes you hard to understand, it is considered rude."
I was just thinking the same thing----caps are for shouting/screaming
I hope everyone is having a good time blaming all the troopers for this act of one. Nobody is more discusted, angry, and frustrated over Scott Ide actions than other cops (not just AST). AST has had to fire, or press to "resign", many trooper recruits in the last year after spending, I'm guessing, $50,000 each to train them in the academy and get them on the road, only to find out they can't cut it. A couple years ago they changed the pay scale. They are scraping the bottom of the barrel. You get what you pay for. Also, The DA's office is increasingly dropping cases because they are so overloaded. There are some awesome lawyers over there but there are many that are substandard in my book. Hireing a bunch of wet noodles doesn't help anyone...just wastes money. I hope this brings attention to the fact that the Department of public safety and the DA's office need more resources to keep us safe. We need to let our legislators know what is important to us. Recognise the problem, fix the problem and quit whining.
Yes, this ex-Alaska State Trooper is a junkie. However; think of all the time and money was just saved in the prosecution process, because he owned up to this problem quickly!
I respect this trooper for not hiring some press-mongering lawyer to try to get out of the charges. The fact that he pleaded out says a lot about him.
For those of you who are so quick to throw stones at him, it appears that your lives have never been impacted by a bad decision, unhealthy coping skills or addiction. I am glad that you've not walked through that hell.
Be mindful that some people who are struggling with addiction are truly regretful about the choices they've made and the people they've hurt. Addiction is a tough ride to get off of; compassion is a lot more effective than condemnation in helping people walk away from addiction. Many people overcome addiction and move on in life to be of tremendous service to others, even to those who were quick to proudly pound their own chests while they judged and pointed fingers at others.
When I went in for jury duty, they asked me if I would take the word of a police officer at face value without question. I said "NO", and I was dismissed. There's a reason why I said no. ALL people are just that, PEOPLE. They all have their own agenda. AST is made up of people.
Rockee - I certainly agree addiction does not mean a person is trash, but taking a pledge to uphold the laws and then in your daily job you arrest people for the same thing you are doing on the sly is a WHOLE different animal then a poor sot who has an addiction.
I've been close to this case, Scott, his wife and children since he first disclosed it to his doctor early this Spring. He screwed up badly and knew it. Based on the majority of the comments, his community seems ready to burn him at the stake for his crime. Let those without sin cast the first stone.
Scott made a terrible mistake and violated a trust he was given. He will live with that, along with the fact he will never work in his field again. But he admitted what he did. To his superiors and brother troopers, to his wife and to his children. He held himself as an example of a good man who made a very bad decision but had the courage to admit it and ask for help. He accepted his punishment and hopefully will become a better and healthier man for it.
Had his drug (and disease) been alcohol instead of prescription pain medication and he stole a bottle of whiskey, been sentenced to 18 months (suspended), fined, been fired, would the community be clammoring for the chair? Or do you think we should show some mercy in our punishment and offer the treatment he requested?
Scott betrayed a trust and broke the law because of an addiction. An addiction does not excuse his crime, but it can and SHOULD allow us a bit of insight as to why a man with his record of military, law enforcement and community service would do such a thing.
He admitted it, took his punishment and accepted treatment. His wife stood at his side, not because she was proud of what he did but to support her husband in a time of need. I hope that the community of Fairbanks will also stand by its citizens in their time of weakness and help Scott and his family.
I applaud the prosecutor and the courts for showing mercy, yet assuring that he was not only punished but treated. Far too often our courts simply hand out 'cookie cutter' and many times draconian punishments for crimes of addiction or poverty. It is refreshing to see that sometimes the courts recognize salvagable cases and have the wisdom to offer a helping hand to those that still have so much to contribute to society.
Signed-
A physcian recently practicing in Fairbanks.
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