Lake County coroner pleads guilty to felonies, resigns

After what a judge called “the ultimate betrayal of trust,” Lake County Coroner Dr. Richard Keller pleaded guilty to a pair of felony crimes, resigned his office and agreed to give up his medical license Tuesday in Lake County circuit court.

The moves came as a result of a years-long investigation of a Waukegan methadone clinic that was linked to an overdose death, and where Keller served as medical director. He was sentenced to probation and fines.

Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran will temporarily run the day-to-day operations of the office, starting immediately, county officials said.

State’s Attorney Michael Waller, whose office conducted the investigation with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration and the state Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, said Keller made two mistakes that led to his downfall.

“For some reason, Richard Keller exercised bad judgment in opening a methadone clinic in the first place when he had no experience or training to do so,” Waller said. “He then compounded that error by issuing numerous prescriptions to people without any medical need for them.”

Keller was taken to the Lake County jail for processing and was unavailable for comment.

Keller, the coroner since 2004 and a licensed physician for more than 30 years, was the medical director of the Green Dragonfly methadone clinic near downtown Waukegan in October 2008.

In December of that year, 30-year-old Steven Vaughn of Lindenhurst died just hours after mixing methadone he had received at the clinic with Xanax he was taking illegally.

Waller announced the following February he was investigating charges made by Vaughn’s family that Vaughn had been given the methadone without first being properly screened for the drug.

Doctors are required to give patients blood and urine screenings before prescribing methadone, a narcotic used to treat heroin addiction but that is also abused recreationally.

No charges were ever filed against Keller in connection with Vaughn’s death, but Vaughn’s family filed a lawsuit against him and the clinic’s former owners last year.

Jill Vaughn, Steven Vaughn’s mother, was in the courtroom Tuesday when Keller pleaded guilty. She called it “a hollow victory.”

Keller, who operated the county’s only free medical clinic from 1992 until his election, always denied any wrongdoing at the clinic until Tuesday.

He pleaded guilty to delivery of a controlled substance to a patient other than Vaughn who prosecutors also said was not given the proper pre-prescription examinations.

Keller also pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice for failing to turn over all the documents from the clinic sought in a subpoena.

Circuit Judge John Phillips ordered him to pay a $500 fine and make contributions of $2,000 to Lake County Crime Stoppers and $2,500 to the Lake County drug court program.

He barred Keller from testifying as an expert witness or issuing any official opinions based on his experience as a doctor or as coroner while on probation.

“I suppose this is the ultimate betrayal of trust of the people who elected you, and as the old saying goes, how great a fall,” Phillips said.

The suspension of Keller’s medical license will be indefinite, but he will be allowed to apply to have it reinstated in five years.

Keller was no stranger to controversy while in office.

In July 2008, he came under fire from the head of the Lake County Republican party for testifying as an expert witness for the defense in a child molesting case.

Keller, who was criticized for testifying for the defense while serving as a law enforcement officer, defended the move by saying he had extensive experience in examining sexual assault victims and believed the examination in the case was bungled.

The jury disagreed and convicted the defendant despite Keller’s testimony.

Keller had previously announced in July 2009 he would not seek re-election to a third term in office but intended to serve until his current term expired next year.

In a statement issued by his attorney, Christopher Kennedy of Lake Forest, Keller asked people to not judge the institution of the coroner’s office based upon his actions.

“Because of today’s legal judgment, I am ending my term as Lake County coroner,” Keller is quoted as saying in the statement. “The personal actions involved should not reflect upon the office, its employees or its mission.”

Lake County Board Chairman David Stolman has 60 days to recommend a candidate to finish Keller’s term. The county board will appoint the eventual successor.

Under the law, the candidate must be a Democrat because Keller was a Democrat when he was elected.

Stolman said he plans to speak with state Sen. Terry Link, the head of Lake County’s Democratic Party, about possible nominees.

Democrats and Republicans on the board were stunned by the day’s developments.

“It’s unfortunate that he has to resign before his term is out,” Waukegan Democrat Angelo Kyle said. “He was a dedicated public servant, and we wish him the best.”

Gurnee Republican Steve Carlson called Keller’s resignation — and the circumstances prompting it — disheartening and disappointing.

“Public officials are people and fallible just as everyone is, but it’s particularly unfortunate when someone who has a responsibility to the voters of Lake County transgresses in this way,” Carlson said.

Stolman said he plans to launch an investigation into the coroner’s office to see “what needs to be done” within the agency, which is run independently of the county board.

The office must be run with “the highest ethical standards,” he said.