KEALAKEKUA — A Kona doctor arrested on suspicion of prescription fraud last year pleaded not guilty to charges Tuesday afternoon.
Clifton W. Arrington appeared before Kona Circuit Court Judge Melvin Fujino and entered his not guilty plea. A jury trial has been scheduled for Jan. 9.
Robert D.S. Kim is representing Arrington in this case.
“We will defend him vigorously,” Kim said.
Kim was recently selected by the Gov. David Ige to fill the seat of Judge Ronald Ibarra, who retired in June. The Legislature must now approve the governor’s selection.
Kim said Arrington was his client prior to the governor’s decision. He added a lot has to happen before he can take the bench. If he’s unable to represent Arrington for his trial in January, Kim said, that will be addressed at the appropriate time.
Arrington was indicted by a grand jury in early August on several drug-related charges. Court documents indicate that from January to March last year, the doctor did “intentionally, knowingly or recklessly predate or pre-sign prescriptions to facilitate the obtaining or attempted obtaining of a controlled substance.”
After the indictment was filed in the 3rd Circuit Court on Aug. 8, Arrington turned himself in a few days later and was released on supervised release, according to court documents.
The indictment stems from an investigation that began last March. The Ocean View man was arrested at his office in Honalo Business Center by the state Narcotics Enforcement Division on March 17, 2016, while patients were awaiting appointments. At the time, Arrington was released pending the investigation.
Arrington, who specializes in anti-aging medicine, was licensed and registered by the Department of Public Safety as a person who is able to distribute, dispense or conduct research with respect to a controlled substance.
Since his arrest last year, Arrington has maintained his medical practice and his license is up for renewal on Jan. 31, 2018.
Toni Schwartz, spokeswoman with the Department of Public Safety that oversees the Narcotics Enforcement Division, said she could not comment on a pending investigation.
