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Roland Doctors, Clinic Owner Indicted, One Faces Murder Charge

SEQUOYAH COUNTY (KFSM) — Four doctors associated with a Roland clinic have been indicted by Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt. According to a release...
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SEQUOYAH COUNTY (KFSM) — Four doctors associated with a Roland clinic have been indicted by Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt.

According to a release, Bernard M. Tougas, and Drs. Ronald V. Myers, John C, Friedl and George B. Howell, all associated with the Wellness Clinic of Roland, Inc., are being indicted on suspicion of running a pill mill in Sequoyah County.

The release stated that Tougas, the owner of the clinic, is also accused of maintaining a building where drugs are sold. He turned himself in Friday (April 15) and was released on a $10,000 bond.

According to the release, Myers and Friedl, both doctors, are alleged to have willfully and knowingly distributed and prescribed narcotics without a legitimate medical purpose or a doctor-patient relationship, resulting in each being accused of two counts of distributing a controlled dangerous substance.

A warrant has been issued for Howell as well for murder, in connection to the death of Tonya Lynn Chester, who died of drug toxicity, after he wrote a prescription of more than 600 narcotic pills for her in one visit, the release stated.

Tougas could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted, while Friedl and Myers could face sentences up to life in prison, according to the release. Howell’s sentence, if convicted of first-degree murder, could be up to life without parole or life in prison.

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