FRANK LEWIS
PDT Staff Writer
Two Portsmouth health care workers, a nurse and a nurse’s assistant, working at Wheelersburg area nursing homes, have been arrested for trafficking in drugs.
Robin Williams, a nurse’s assistant, was arrested and charged with trafficking in morphine; trafficking in hydrocodone and possession of hydrocodone, all felonies of the fourth degree; possession of morphine; possession of oxycodone, and possession of criminal tools, all felonies of the fifth degree. Dan Williams, a nurse, was arrested and charged with possession of hydrocodone, a felony of the fourth degree; possession of morphine; possession of oxycodone, and possession of criminal tools, all felonies of the fifth degree.
Scioto County Sheriff Marty V. Donini said at around 5:52 p.m. Saturday, members of the Southern Ohio Drug Task Force, which consists of narcotics detectives from the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office, the Portsmouth Police Department, and agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, along with assistance from officers of the New Boston Police Department, executed a narcotics-related search warrant at the residence of Daniel R. Williams, 49 and Robin M. Williams, 46, located at 13010 Gallia Pike Portsmouth, which is located inside Porter Township.
According to Donini, Task Force detectives, with assistance from the New Boston Police Department, had been investigating Daniel and Robin Williams, both of which are employed by Wheelersburg area nursing homes, for trafficking in prescription medications such as Morphine and Hydrocodone prior to the search warrant execution.
Upon execution of the warrant, detectives and officers seized suspected liquid Morphine, hydrocodone pills, oxycodone pills, and numerous other types of prescription medications, such as antibiotics and vitamins that had been prescribed to approximately 28 patients of the Concord Health and Rehabilitation Center located in Wheelersburg, where Daniel Williams is currently employed as a nurse and Robin Williams had been previously employed as a nurse’s assistant. Detectives and officers also seized drug paraphernalia, suspected marijuana, suspected synthetic marijuana, and three firearms from the residence. According to Donini, some of the liquid Morphine seized had already been drawn into syringes and prepared for sale.
Concord administrator Scott Powell said he was disappointed by the actions of one of his nurses, but assured that no patients were directly harmed by the criminal behavior.
“First and foremost, I want to stress that none of our patients were impacted negatively by the actions of Daniel Williams,” Scott Powell, administrator at Concord, said. “At Concord we strive to provide a caring and safe environment for our patients and residents. In the nursing home industry we place faith and trust into the hands of our nurses, and look to them as leaders within our buildings. In this instance, that faith and trust was abused and broken.”
Powell concluded - “Throughout this process we have assisted the detectives with their investigation. We do have safeguards in place to prevent this type of event and currently are working through our own internal investigation to see how he circumvented protocols. The actions of Dan and his wife, Robin, are yet another example of how drugs have taken grip on Scioto County, and highlight how destructive addiction can be in our friends, families, and co-worker’s lives. As we move past this experience we will continue to give our residents and patients excellent care in positive environment.”
Mr. and Mrs. Williams were placed in the Scioto County Jail and set to be arraigned in Portsmouth Municipal Court on Monday, August 20, at 9 a.m.
Daniel Williams was held on a $12,500 bond, while Robin Williams was held on a $22,500 bond.
According to Donini, the case against the Williams’ is continuing to be investigated by Task Force detectives and he said officials from Concord Health and Rehabilitation Center have assisted in the investigation. Donini also said the Ohio Board of Pharmacy has also been notified of the investigation. Upon further investigation being completed, the case against Daniel and Robin Williams will be forwarded to the Scioto County Prosecutor’s Office to be presented to a Scioto County grand jury for the consideration of additional felony charges.
Donini took the time to thank the New Boston Police Dept. and the public for their assistance and said anyone wishing to leave drug information for the Southern Ohio Drug Task Force, to contact the Sheriff’s Office drug line at740-351-1094, the Portsmouth Police Dept. drug line at740-354-DRUG (3784), or email drugs@sciotocountysheriff.com. All information will be kept confidential and anonymous.
Frank Lewis may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 232, or at flewis@heartlandpublications.com
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