Bauer reports to prison Thursday

SANDUSKY — Dr. William Bauer, a local doctor convicted in federal court of overprescribing pain medications, will report to federal prison on Thursday, when he'll begin serving a five-year prison term. Bauer, 85, was convicted of multiple charges in a federal trial in Toledo over allegations that he overprescribed pain medications and committed fraud on federal health care programs by not following good medical practices. A jury convicted Bauer of 76 counts of distribution of controlled substances and 25 counts of health care fraud. Many law enforcement and regulatory authorities contend that overprescribing pain pills has contributed to the opioid epidemic. Critics of the policy argue that deaths have soared because of the "war on drugs" approach. Bauer contends that he refused to abandon chronic pain patients and that he did what was necessary to help patients in severe pain. Many of his patients continue to defend him. "I've been following the sentence I've been given, but I firmly believe I can defend my position," Bauer said Tuesday. Bauer said he remains concerned over the fate of thousands of chronic pain patients: people who suffer from substance abuse disorder and people who need mental health treatment. They are not getting the help them need and can't defend themselves, he said. On March 10, U.S. District Judge Jack Zouhary sentenced Bauer to five years in prison. Bauer also was told to pay $464,099 in restitution, which includes $253,300 paid to Medicare and $210,798 to Medicaid. In addition, Bauer was ordered to pay $100,000 in community restitution. It was recommended he give that payment to the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Seneca, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wyandot Counties. On Thursday, Bauer will report to the Federal Correctional Institution in Morgantown, West Virginia. It's a minimum-security federal prison that has sometimes been nicknamed "Club Fed" because of its amenities. It is commonly used to house white-collar, nonviolent inmates. Bauer is appealing his conviction to the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati. The grounds for the appeal will become public in a few weeks when his appeals brief is filed. Bauer said only that he believes his attorney will be able to file a strong appeal. Bauer practiced in Sandusky and lived in the Port Clinton area. About two weeks ago, his daughter, Catherine "Cate" Whiddon, helped Bauer and his wife move to the Dallas-Fort Worth area in Texas. Bauer was able to attend his grandson's wedding before preparing to report to prison. The grounds for the appeal will become public in a few weeks when his appeals brief is filed. Bauer said only that he believes his attorney will be able to file a strong appeal.