TRAVERSE CITY -- A man who regularly obtained methadone from a local doctor and allegedly sold the drug in Presque Isle County pleaded guilty to criminal charges.
Todd Christopher Perkins posed as his dead brother and received methadone from Dr. Douglas Wigton at Shepherd of Hope Clinic in Traverse City. He admitted during his Friday plea hearing to visiting Wigton to obtain the drug about "once a month" from early 2007 up until a few months ago.
Perkins, 38, pleaded guilty to identity theft and two counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud. An additional count of obtaining drugs by fraud was dismissed.
Sentencing is set for June 12.
The Alpena-area Huron Undercover Narcotics Team arrested Perkins in March on suspicion of dealing methadone in the Onaway area in Presque Isle County, according to police reports. Their investigation revealed he received the prescription painkiller from Wigton.
Wigton several years ago treated Ashley Perkins, who died in Florida in 2005. Todd Perkins, who said during his plea hearing he looks "totally different" than his brother, sought out Wigton because he had trouble receiving methadone in his own name.
Perkins showed Wigton an identification card bearing his brother's name, according to police reports, and Wigton prescribed him the medication.
Wigton previously said Perkins had an "obvious medical reason" for the drug, regardless of his identity. Perkins told Judge Thomas G. Power he had no need for it, despite telling the doctor he had a separated shoulder and back problems.
Perkins' court appointed attorney, Dave Clark, told Power that Perkins is expected to plead guilty in Presque Isle County next week to possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, a 20-year felony.
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