Gowder, Heaton indicted in North Carolina

Murphy, NC – Union General Hospital CEO Mike Gowder and Blairsville physician Dr. James Heaton have been indicted by a Cherokee County, NC grand jury, both for five counts of trafficking in Opium or Heroin and five counts of obtaining a controlled substance by forgery, according to Cherokee County, NC Sheriff Derrick Palmer.

Gowder and Heaton were arrested Wednesday, March 2, Sheriff Palmer said.

Gowder is free on $500,000 bond; Dr. Heaton was still in custody, his bond set at $500,000 also, Sheriff Palmer said.

Both are required to appear at an April 4th Superior Court hearing in Cherokee County, NC Superior Court, Sheriff Palmer said.

Gowder was placed on paid administrative leave at the time of his arrest in early February by the Union General Hospital Inc, Authority board of directors. Heaton, a member of the board of directors was suspended from that board.

Gowder was charged in Union County with three counts of fraudulently obtaining a controlled substance, one count of conspiracy; Heaton was charged with 40 counts of unauthorized distribution and dispensation of controlled substances, one count of conspiracy.

Also charged in Union County, Mike Gowder's brother David Gowder, on 36 counts of fraudulently obtaining a controlled substance, seven counts of unauthorized distribution and dispensation of controlled substances; his wife Gail Gowder on two counts of fraudulently obtaining a controlled substance; his niece, Jamie Harkins on two counts of fraudulently obtaining a controlled substance, one count of conspiracy; his sister, Virginia Harkins, on two counts of fraudulently obtaining a controlled substance, one count of conspiracy.

Sheriff Palmer wanted to thank the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations Drug Division Unit, the Union County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Drug Enforcement Agency for partnering with the Cherokee County, NC Sheriff's Office on this investigation.


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	Gowder, Heaton indicted in North Carolina Murphy, NC – Union General Hospital CEO Mike Gowder and Blairsville physician Dr. James Heaton have been indicted by a Cherokee County, NC grand jury, both for five counts of trafficking in Opium or Heroin and five counts of obtaining a controlled substance by forgery, according to Cherokee County, NC Sheriff Derrick Palmer. Gowder and Heaton were arrested Wednesday, March 2, Sheriff Palmer said. Gowder is free on $500,000 bond; Dr. Heaton was still in custody, his bond set at $500,000 also, Sheriff Palmer said. Both are required to appear at an April 4th Superior Court hearing in Cherokee County, NC Superior Court, Sheriff Palmer said. Gowder was placed on paid administrative leave at the time of his arrest in early February by the Union General Hospital Inc, Authority board of directors. Heaton, a member of the board of directors was suspended from that board. Gowder was charged in Union County with three counts of fraudulently obtaining a controlled substance, one count of conspiracy; Heaton was charged with 40 counts of unauthorized distribution and dispensation of controlled substances, one count of conspiracy. Also charged in Union County, Mike Gowder's brother David Gowder, on 36 counts of fraudulently obtaining a controlled substance, seven counts of unauthorized distribution and dispensation of controlled substances; his wife Gail Gowder on two counts of fraudulently obtaining a controlled substance; his niece, Jamie Harkins on two counts of fraudulently obtaining a controlled substance, one count of conspiracy; his sister, Virginia Harkins, on two counts of fraudulently obtaining a controlled substance, one count of conspiracy. Sheriff Palmer wanted to thank the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations Drug Division Unit, the Union County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Drug Enforcement Agency for partnering with the Cherokee County, NC Sheriff's Office on this investigation.

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