PINEVILLE — A former Bell County dentist indicted for Medicaid fraud, drug trafficking, and jury tampering pleaded guilty in Bell County Circuit Court on Monday.

Craig Ralston entered the guilty plea under conditions that charges against him for jury tampering would be dismissed, according to Bell County Deputy Court Clerk Robin Garned. Ralston will be sentenced to five years in prison on Jan. 4, 2010 at 9 a.m.

Ralston’s change of plea appeared to be sudden, according to Garned. She received a call from the Attorney General’s office on Friday informing her Ralston wanted to change his plea.

On February 17, Ralston was on trial in Bell County Circuit Court for charges of defrauding the Kentucky Medicaid Assistance Program. During a break in the proceedings, Ralston allegedly attempted to influence some of the jurors in that case by making comments to them outside of the courtroom, according to a press release from the Attorney General. Because of his actions, a mistrial was ordered and he was held in contempt of court and taken into custody. He was then indicted on five counts of jury tampering, a Class D felony, on June 17, 2009.

Contact Staff Writer Stephen Woodward at swoodward@middlesborodailynews.com.