Limbaugh's offer of plea deal rejected
Talk-show host's lawyers proposed he enter drug treatment to avoid prosecution
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Rush Limbaugh
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WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (CNN) -- Prosecutors rejected a plea deal offer from Rush Limbaugh's lawyers, who proposed that the radio talk show host enter a treatment program for drug offenders to avoid criminal conviction.
Instead, Palm Beach County, Florida, prosecutors wanted Limbaugh to plead guilty to the third-degree felony of "doctor shopping" – visiting several doctors to receive duplicate prescriptions of a controlled narcotic.
Limbaugh, who is under investigation for allegedly receiving illegal prescription drugs, admits he became addicted to painkillers while being treated for a back injury. He has not been arrested, no charges have been filed and he denies he was involved in doctor shopping.
The proposed plea deal -- officially disclosed after a Florida newspaper obtained two letters detailing it -- was made by Limbaugh's defense attorney Roy Black.
The letters were obtained by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel newspaper from the Palm Beach County Florida State Attorney's Office, following a public records request. CNN has confirmed the authenticity of the letters.
A public relations spokeswoman for Limbaugh said last month that in a December 11 letter, Black wrote to Palm Beach County state attorney Barry Krischer and asked if the investigation could be resolved by having Limbaugh enter an intervention program for drug offenders instead of facing criminal prosecution.
In a December 15 letter, James Martz, the prosecutor leading the investigation, said an intervention program was not appropriate, given that the program is typically offered to minor, first-time drug offenders.
Martz said records collected in the case "indicate evidence that would support in excess of 10 felony counts for violations" of getting multiple prescriptions from different doctors. The practice, called "doctor shopping," is a felony in Florida punishable by up to five years in prison.
Limbaugh's attorneys are appealing the seizure of his medical records by the state attorney's office last month. Limbaugh has argued that the records were seized illegally in violation of his constitutional right to privacy.
