A Fayette County doctor convicted last year of trading drugs for sex has been ordered to report to prison on Oct. 1.
Dr. Mark S. Fremd, 49, of 205 N. Carnegie Ave., Connellsville, was sentenced to 18 to 36 months on May 23, 2003, but remained free on $50,000 bond as he appealed the case.
The state Superior Court denied Fremd a new trial last week. His lawyer, Paul Gettleman, did not return a call for comment yesterday on whether an appeal to the state Supreme Court would be filed.
Fremd was convicted of trading sex for pain-relieving medications, giving the drugs to patients with the understanding that they would sell them, and filing insurance claims for procedures that were never performed.
In addition to the prison time, Fremd was ordered to pay nearly $250,000 in restitution to his insurance carrier and to serve 10 years' probation after his prison term is complete.
Fremd's first post-trial appeal, to the county court, was denied in an sharply worded opinion by Judge Steven Leskinen.
"The law does not permit the defendant to select his own punishment. His right to choose ended when he chose to break the law. It does not take a medical degree to know: 'Don't do the crime if you can't do the time,'" Leskinen wrote.
Several months before the Superior Court appeal was denied, Fremd was in trouble with the law again.
Connellsville police allege that Fremd bashed a man in the head with a flashlight on June 25, ripping a wound that took 10 staples to close. Police said there was an argument over money as the two men worked on a painting project at a North Prospect Street housed owned by Fremd.
Fremd was arraigned on aggravated assault charges and posted a $10,000 percentage bond. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday.
