Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, October 14, 1995                   TAG: 9510150011
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: S.D. HARRINGTON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

EX-HOSPITAL OFFICIAL GETS SUSPENDED TERM IN DRUG CASE

Paul Matthew Norris, who entered a plea agreement in August, was found guilty of obtaining drugs by fraud or deceit, a felony. A grand larceny charge against him was dismissed.

Judge G.O. Clemens sentenced Norris to four years in prison but suspended all of it. He put Norris on probation for four years and ordered him to pay more than $7,000 in restitution to Lewis-Gale within six months.

Norris forged doctors' signatures and falsified drug requisitions to obtain Demerol and Fentanyl, two narcotics used as painkillers, according to the police investigation report.

The incidents occurred between November 1994 and this past January.

A nursing supervisor discovered a discrepancy in records and began to investigate.

Norris said in court that when he learned of the investigation, he confessed to the nursing supervisor.

"It was a combination of things," Norris said calmly Friday, claiming that both physical and emotional problems led to his addiction. The drugs "grabbed ahold of me and took control."

Norris, 30, who is married and has a daughter, said he is working as an independent sales representative for several medical equipment companies in the Southeast. He lives with his family in Spotsylvania and said he has no access to narcotics at his job.

Commonwealth's Attorney Fred King recommended that Norris be found guilty of both felony charges and serve time in prison.

"This is a case of employee theft," said King, comparing it to a bank teller "trying to overcome some need."

King said while Norris had access to the drugs, the treatment also was available at the hospital.

But Norris' attorney, Jeff Rudd, argued for both charges to be reduced to misdemeanors, claiming the addiction lessened Norris' "degree of conscious effort."

"Over a period of time, Mr. Norris was worn down," he said.

Rudd told Clemens of several cases similar to Norris' that he has handled, all but one of which were dismissed or reduced to misdemeanors.

Clemens said he would not have felt comfortable dismissing both charges because he didn't want Norris to be back in a position where he has access to narcotics.

With the felony charge, Clemens said, health-care employers at least would be warned of Norris' past drug problems.