Former Bell County dentist, 56-year-old Craig L. Ralston, was thrown in jail after being held in contempt of court on Tuesday, Feb. 17. Circuit Court documents allege that Ralston was caught talking to a juror during his Medicaid fraud and drug trafficking hearing.
Bell County Circuit Judge James Bowling ordered Ralston be lodged in the Bell County Detention Center after Ralston was allegedly caught talking to a juror regarding his criminal case. Ralston was transported directly to the jail from the courtroom by Bell County Sheriff’s Deputy Leon Wilson. Furthermore, Bowling declared Ralston’s case a mistrial and he will remain in jail until his next trial date on May 12.
Ralston’s indictment, stemming from 2004, charges that Ralston fraudulently billed and accepted payments from the Kentucky Medicaid Program for tooth extractions that he did not perform between March 1, 1988 and September 30, 2004.
The indictment also alleges that Ralston was trafficking in controlled substances by unlawfully providing patients with prescriptions when there was no medical need for the drugs.
During the time of Ralston’s original arrest, Kentucky Attorney General Greg Stumbo said, “The Medicaid Program is devoted to meet the needs of Kentucky’s most disadvantaged citizens. My office will vigorously prosecute all violations of the public trust.”
Ralston is being represented by attorney William Butler of Louisville, Ky. Butler could not be reached for comment regarding his client’s recent arrest.
If Ralston is convicted of the four felony charges pending against him, he could face up to 20 years in prison and up to $40,000 in penalties and fines.
Sarah Miracle is a staff writer for the Middlesboro Daily News. She can be contacted via e-mail at smiracle@middlesborodailynews.com.
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