HARTFORD - A West Hartford dentist charged with illegally prescribing oxycodone and other drugs to people was in court Tuesday morning.
Peter Delaney was charged with 45 counts of illegally prescribing controlled medications to people who were not treated at his office or have legitimate reasons for the painkillers.
In some cases, court papers show the former dentist was giving Oxycodone to patients and non-patients and even keeping some for himself in exchange for money.
Prosecutors said the 47-year-old was a flight risk because he recently emptied his bank account and told a bank employee he was leaving the state because police were after him.
Delaney’s attorney denied that, and said his client is married with three children.
Police started investigating the dentist after a suspected bank robber told police Delany was his drug supplier.
Peter Baker, the alleged bank robber who hit the same East Granby bank twice, told police that Delaney, his dentist, was also his supplier back in April. In late June, Delaney admitted he did prescribe Baker Oxycodone for non-medical reasons.
Delaney's attorney, Kevin Smith said, “You can take for yourself what the word of a bank robber is worth. If you want to rely on that, feel free. We don't intend to do that.
In court, FOX 61 learned that Delaney sold his practice in West Hartford for $600,000 in anticipation of these allegations. He was arrested earlier this month. He also gave up his license to write prescriptions.
Delaney was recently in a rehab in Georgia.
“He certainly went to Georgia to address some issues that I would say fall under mental health and he's addressed that, and now we're ready to fight back,” said Smith. “Peter Delaney is a family man who's lived here practically his whole life He's been Connecticut's top dentist and he's got a lot to fight for. We're at an early stage of things. There's still developments and discovery coming in, so we're not really in a position where we can say exactly what the defense is.”
Delaney remains held on $500,000 bail. He'll be in court again October 18.
