DOCTORS FACE MULTIPLE DRUG CHARGES

WARREN - Three physicians working out of Pain Management Associates pleaded
innocent Thursday to multi-count indictments charging them with engaging in
a painkiller ring that was uncovered in a three-month investigation by
federal and local drug agents.

The three physicians released on $50,000 bonds were: William E. Masters,
72, 1143 Genesee Ave. N.E., Warren; Christopher J. Sherman, 53, 707 Old
Wagon Lane, Howland; and Charles W. Theisler, 53, 6810 Ruby Court,
Youngs-town. Besides the first-degree felony charge of engaging in a
pattern of corrupt activity, which carries a penalty of up to 10 years
behind bars, each doctor was secretly indicted on charges of aggravated
trafficking in drugs, trafficking in drugs, illegal processing of drug
documents and practicing medicine without a certificate.

Masters, who appeared in court in a wheelchair, and Theisler, a
chiropractor, were both named in 118-count indictments and Sherman faces a
120-count indictment, which included two additional counts of aggravated
drug possession.

Prosecutor Dennis Watkins said indictments allege that Sherman and Masters
permitted Theisler to issue pre-signed prescriptions to patients for
Schedule II and III controlled substances, including OxyContin - a powerful
painkiller commonly given to cancer patients.

Theisler is not authorized to prescribe the painkillers under Ohio law
since he is a chiropractor.

Watkins also pointed out that further allegations state that from July 2001
to Jan. 26, Masters billed patients $1,217,080 who had actually been seen
by Theisler.

Sherman, Watkins said, billed patients another $18,025 during the same time
frame for patients who were actually seen by Theisler.

At a press conference following the arraignments, Watkins praised agents
Andy Bodzak and Burl Patton of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration;
agent George Pavlich of the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy, agent Tom Malone
of the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force and Lt. Rich McBride of
the Trumbull County Sheriff's Department.

Watkins said that OxyContin deaths have increased locally with 14 reported
in 2001 and the DEA has given a top priority to investigations involving
the diversion of legitimate pharmaceuticals.

The State Medical Board in February suspended the license of Sherman after
he admitted to a board investigator he habitually had used Fentanyl - a
narcotic commonly used in pain treatment - for almost seven months.

According to the board report, Sherman told an investigator on Jan. 27 he
first injected himself with Fentanyl sometime in the spring of 2003. He
said he continued to habitually administer the narcotic to himself since then.

Sherman told a board investigator he also occasionally self-administered
Versed, another controlled substance.

Sherman previously had served probation for opiate and marijuana abuse in
late 1991 after receiving treatment for the problem in February of that
year. The probation ended in late 1993, and Sherman was permitted to
practice medicine without any restrictions.