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Rush Limbaugh Arrested On Prescription Drug Charges

POSTED: Friday, April 28, 2006
UPDATED: 6:28 pm CDT April 28, 2006

Officials in Florida said late Friday that radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh was arrested on prescription drug charges.

A spokeswoman for the state attorney's office said Limbaugh turned himself in to authorities at about 4 p.m. Eastern time.

The conservative radio commentator arrived at the jail with his attorney, Roy Black, and was released an hour later on $3,000 bail.

Black said his client and authorities reached a settlement on a single-count charge of "doctor shopping " -- or illegally deceiving multiple doctors to receive overlapping prescriptions -- filed by the state sttorney, which will be dismissed in 18 months.

Limbaugh maintains he's innocent. He has acknowledged he became addicted to pain medication, blaming it on severe back pain.

He took a five-week leave from his radio show to enter a rehabilitation program in 2003.

Black released the following statement, which is quoted in full:

    "I am pleased to announce that the State Attorney's Office and Mr. Limbaugh have reached an agreement whereby a single count charge of doctor shopping filed today by the State Attorney will be dismissed in 18 months. As a primary condition of the dismissal, Mr. Limbaugh must continue to seek treatment from the doctor he has seen for the past two and one half years. This is the same doctor under whose care Mr. Limbaugh has remained free of his addiction without relapse.

    "Mr. Limbaugh and I have maintained from the start that there was no doctor shopping, and we continue to hold this position. Accordingly, we filed today with the Court a plea of 'Not Guilty' to the charge filed by the State.

    "As part of this agreement, Mr. Limbaugh also has agreed to make a $30,000 payment to the State of Florida to defray the public cost of the investigation. The agreement also provides that he must refrain from violating the law during this 18 months, must pay $30 per month for the cost of "supervision" and comply with other similar provisions of the agreement.

    "Mr. Limbaugh had intended to remain in treatment. Thus, we believe the outcome for him personally will be much as if he had fought the charge and won."

    The actions taken today are as follows:

  • The State Attorney has filed a single charge of doctor shopping with the Court. The charge is being held in abeyance under the terms of an agreement between the State and Mr. Limbaugh.
  • Mr. Limbaugh has filed a plea of "Not Guilty" with the Court. The formal agreement between Mr. Limbaugh and the State Attorney will be filed with the Court on Monday. The terms of the agreement are substantively as follows:

    *Mr. Limbaugh will continue in treatment with the doctor he has seen for the past two and one half years.

    *After Mr. Limbaugh completes an additional 18 months of treatment, the State Attorney has agreed to drop the charge.

    *Mr. Limbaugh has agreed to make a $30,000 payment to the State of Florida to defray the public cost of the investigation.

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