Former Renton Dentist Charged, Accused Of Making Illegal Prescriptions

RENTON, WA — A former Renton dentist was indicted in federal court Tuesday, charged with four counts of illegally distributing prescription opiates, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Federal prosecutors allege Luke Edward St. Marie, 34, wrote prescriptions for oxycodone and hydrocodone on at least four occasions between January 2018 and July 2018 "outside the scope of professional practice and with no legitimate medical purpose."

The Washington State Dental Commission suspended St. Marie's license last April after its investigators determined that he "wrote prescriptions outside of a provider-patient relationship, didn’t adequately document prescriptions, rewrote an altered prescription, didn’t report that his prescription pad may have been compromised, and didn’t take adequate steps to ensure all prescriptions issued under his authority were valid."

Following the investigation, commissioners referred the case to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The U.S. Attorney's Office alleged the four criminal counts in the indictment represented a small portion of the dozens of improper prescriptions discovered during the investigation, including many written to St. Marie's girlfriend, her family and friends. Prosecutors said his girlfriend later died from an overdose.

St. Marie appeared in court in Seattle Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to all charges. He was released on personal recognizance pending a trial scheduled to begin in November. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison.