Levine admits to misconduct with one patient, but denies others

COLUMBUS, Ohio — An attorney for a former Mason County doctor accused of engaging in sexual misconduct with three of his patients said Tuesday that his client admitted to some of the claims against him, but denied others.

Jack Levine was practicing at Pike Community Hospital in 2007 when accusations against him first surfaced, 10TV's Glenn McEntyre reported.

Levine, who operated a drug treatment program at the hospital, has been accused of taking advantage of patients who came to him looking for help.

For more on this story, go to WBNS-TV 10

Levine charged with three drug-related felonies

Waverly, Ohio – As promised, prosecutors have dismissed a sexual imposition charge against a former Mason County physician to focus on pursing drug-related charges against him.

On Thursday, Feb. 21, Dr. Jack M. Levine was scheduled to go on trial for sexual imposition. Levine was charged with the crime, a misdemeanor, in December after a female patient he was treating for addiction to prescription pain medication alleged he touched her inappropriately.

However, the Pike County Prosecutor’s Office asked that the charge be dismissed. On Feb. 19, it filed charges of information on alleged drug-related activity conducted by Levine discovered in the course of its investigation of the sexual imposition allegation.

According to Thomas Spetnagel, Levine’s attorney with the Chillicothe law firm of Spetnagel and McMahon, Levine was charged with one count each of illegal processing of drug documents, deception to obtain a dangerous drug and aggravated possession of drugs. On Feb. 20, Levine made an initial appearance in Pike County Court in which, at the request of the prosecutor’s office, was released on his own recognizance, Spetnagel said.

Though Anthony Moraleja, assistant Pike County prosecutor, was not immediately available for comment, he previously told reporters it was the state’s intention to present the charges to the grand jury on Thursday, Feb. 28. Regardless, Spetnagel said a probable cause hearing on the charges is scheduled for Monday, March 3 at 10:30 a.m. in County Court.

When asked if could comment on specifics of the allegations now leveled at his client, Spetnagel said he didn’t know the strength of the charges made. However, in talking with Levine, Spetnagel said, “He feels strongly that there are no substance to the charges against him.”

In Ohio , illegal processing of drug documents is an F5 felony which carries a penalty of 0-12 months in jail and maximum $2,500 fine. The deception to obtain, and aggravated possession are both F4 felonies that carry 0-18-months in jail, and a maximum $5,000 fine.

Likewise, F4 felonies carry a mandatory driver’s license suspension.

Felony drug charges likely to be filed against Levine in Ohio

Waverly, Ohio – Fighting allegations of sexual misconduct may the least of Dr. Jack M. Levine’s worries as prosecutors announced their intention to file drug charges against the former Mason County physician.

For more on this story, go to the West Virginia Record

Photo: Accompained by his wife, Diane Smith Levine, Dr. Jack M. Levine leaves the parking lot of the Pike County Court on Monday, Feb. 11. Though a trial date was set for Feb. 21 on the sexual imposition charge pending against Dr. Levine, prosecutors said the case could be dismissed in favor of persuing felony drug charges against him.

Hearing postponed in Levine sexual imposition case

WAVERLY, Ohio - A pre-trial conference scheduled in the case of a former Mason County physician charged with sexual imposition has been delayed due to the failure of the state to turn over certain documents in a timely fashion.

For more on this article, go to the West Virginia Record