7/7/11 Millersburg woman has six weeks to get drug treatment plan on track

  • By Nick Sabo
  • July 7, 2011
  • 265
                        
SUMMARY: Faces up to 18 months in prison if she fails A Millersburg woman facing prison time has six weeks to prove she can stick to a treatment program. A sentencing hearing for Beatrice G. Biro, 50, 254 N. Mad Anthony St., was granted a second continuance Thursday July 7 by Holmes County Common Pleas Judge Robert D. Rinfret. Rinfret said he hopes Biro will use the next six weeks to show the court she can stay with a drug treatment program. Biro faces up to 18 months in prison. Biro previously pleaded guilty to one count of deception to obtain a dangerous drug. The charge stems from Aug. 25, when Biro illegally received a prescription for Oxycodone. Biro had been ‘doctor shopping” emergency rooms and made 141 visits in a single month, according to Rinfret. Biro’s attorney, Jeff Kellogg, requested a continuance of Biro’s first sentencing hearing after Biro was found to be an unacceptable candidate for treatment at the Stark Regional Community Corrections Center. Kellogg asked for the additional time to find another program for Biro. Biro had been in a weekly outpatient treatment plan with Your Human Resource Center, and was taking Suboxone to wean herself off opiate addiction. After attending regularly in March and April, Biro missed several appointments. This caused her physician some concern because Suboxone produces a high similar to opiates and can be addictive if not used in conjunction with a monitored treatment plan. Biro was previously convicted of deception to obtain in Summit County and given treatment in lieu of conviction. She did not successfully complete the program, Kellogg said. Biro told Rinfret she missed the appointments because of health issues related to a recent surgery and the need to make other appointments over those at YHRC. Biro said she is confident she can keep appointments now. “I assure you, if we continue with the Suboxone...I feel that I’m going very well now,” Biro said. “I plead to the court to let me show you.” Rinfret said Biro’s medical issues and the fact that Biro is primary caregiver for her 8 year old grandson prompted his decision. However, he warned Biro what will happen if she can’t follow a treatment plan. “If we come back and you’ve missed even one appointment, if you test positive or I hear you’ve lost your prescription - that just tells me you’re trying to get more - or any of that stuff, I am going to send you to prison,” Rinfret said.


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