4 days ago
After serving time on drug and weapons charges, Iowa dentist has license reinstated
(Photo by)
An Iowa dentist who served a prison sentence on drug and weapons charges has had his license restored by state regulators.
Iowa Dental Board records indicate Shawn Kerby was issued a dental license in 2004. Ten years later, in 2014, Kerby was charged by the board with indiscriminate or promiscuous prescribing or dispensing drugs for unlawful purposes.
The board alleged that it had subpoenaed nine of Kerby's patient files, and in seven of those cases there were multiple prescriptions issued by Kerby that were never recorded in the patients' files. On multiple occasions, the board alleged, Kerby had prescribed controlled substances for patients he hadn't seen for more than a year.
SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
According to the board, Kerby explained his actions by saying he was unaware of the regulations pertaining to prescribing medications. The board allowed Kerby to continue practicing, but fined him $2,500 and placed his license on probation for two years.
In December 2015, agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration served search warrants at Kerby's dental practice and home. Five months later, in April 2016, Kerby agreed to have his license placed on 'inactive' status.
In February 2017, Kerby was indicted on 11 federal criminal charges, including knowingly prescribing hydrocodone and other drugs for other individuals in order to obtain the drugs for his own personal use. The offenses allegedly were committed while Kerby was operating two central Iowa dental clinics, Kerby Family Dental and Bright Smiles Family Dental.
Prosecutors alleged that through his dental practice, Kerby had prescribed patients hydrocodone despite the lack of any medical need for the drug. He would then arrange for the patients to route the hydrocodone pills to him once they had filled the prescription at a local pharmacy.
While awaiting trial in July 2017, Kerby was alleged to have violated his pretrial release agreement by testing positive for opiates.
In January 2018, with the federal charges still pending, Kerby was arrested by police in Marengo on charges of serious domestic abuse assault and interference with official acts. He later pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of disorderly conduct.
In February 2018, a plea agreement in the federal case was reached in which nine of the charges were dismissed and Kerby pleaded guilty to charges of obtaining hydrocodone by deception or fraud and being an unlawful user of drugs while in possession of firearms. He was sentenced to 20 months in prison, according to court records.
Shortly after his sentencing but before he began serving his sentence, Kerby was pulled over by police in Marengo. Court records indicate a search of his vehicle resulted in the discovery of a Crown Royal bag in which a glass methamphetamine pipe was located. Kerby subsequently tested positive for amphetamine and methamphetamine and allegedly admitted using meth, according to court records.
After Kerby began serving his federal prison sentence in Leavenworth, Kansas, he voluntarily surrendered his Iowa dental license. In November 2020, after Kerby's release from prison, the Iowa Dental Board reinstated his license subject to five years of probation, during which he would have to abstain from drug use and submit to practice monitoring.
Recently, the board agreed to terminate the probation agreement early, restoring Kerby's license to full privileges, free and clear of any restrictions.
SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
