A Charleston eye doctor admitted in federal court on Monday to writing bogus prescriptions to several women in exchange for information about a woman he was dating.

Dr. R. David Allara, 52, pleaded guilty via information to one count of aiding and abetting another person in getting hydrocodone by fraud or deception.

An information, which cannot be filed without a defendant's permission, generally indicates that a defendant is cooperating with prosecutors.

Allara surrendered his medical license in August and attended a substance abuse treatment program in Williamsburg, Va. Last month, the state Board of Medicine, which had suspended his license, restored it to inactive status and placed him on three years probation.

The former captain of the West Virginia University basketball team told Chief U.S. District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin that he was once addicted to cocaine, and that he hasn't used cocaine for 11 months or consumed alcohol in nine months.

Allara said he knew that the prescriptions he wrote to Danielle Lewis, Charity Grisanti, Julie Shoup, Cindy Merrill and Michelle Merrill between August 2005 and April 2006 served no medical purpose. He helped the women obtain the drugs so that Lewis, who was friends with Brandace Kinder, whom he was dating at the time, would provide him with information about the woman.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica Schwartz said that the amount of drugs he prescribed was not typical for his practice as an eye surgeon.

In December, a former patient sued Allara in Kanawha Circuit Court, alleging he performed LASIK eye surgery on her without recognizing that she had a relatively rare condition that made the surgery too risky.

In addition, the suit alleges Allara treated the patient while high.

"Upon information and belief, Dr. Allara examined and/or treated Sherry Dew while he was impaired and under the influence of cocaine and/or other illicit drugs," the suit reads.

According to the Board of Medicine's Web site, Allara has faced five malpractice allegations. The first was dismissed in 1994, and the following four settled for $40,000, $30,000, $75,000 and $900,000.

The last settlement, for surgery performed in 2003, was finalized in December 2007, according to the site.

Goodwin released Allara on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond. Allara faces up to four years in prison and fines of up to $250,000 when he is sentenced on July 17.

To contact staff writer Andrew Clevenger, use e-mail or call 348-1723.

A Charleston eye doctor admitted in federal court on Monday to writing bogus prescriptions to several women in exchange for information about a woman he was dating.

Dr. R. David Allara, 52, pleaded guilty via information to one count of aiding and abetting another person in getting hydrocodone by fraud or deception.

An information, which cannot be filed without a defendant's permission, generally indicates that a defendant is cooperating with prosecutors.

Allara surrendered his medical license in August and attended a substance abuse treatment program in Williamsburg, Va. Last month, the state Board of Medicine, which had suspended his license, restored it to inactive status and placed him on three years probation.

The former captain of the West Virginia University basketball team told Chief U.S. District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin that he was once addicted to cocaine, and that he hasn't used cocaine for 11 months or consumed alcohol in nine months.

Allara said he knew that the prescriptions he wrote to Danielle Lewis, Charity Grisanti, Julie Shoup, Cindy Merrill and Michelle Merrill between August 2005 and April 2006 served no medical purpose. He helped the women obtain the drugs so that Lewis, who was friends with Brandace Kinder, whom he was dating at the time, would provide him with information about the woman.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica Schwartz said that the amount of drugs he prescribed was not typical for his practice as an eye surgeon.

In December, a former patient sued Allara in Kanawha Circuit Court, alleging he performed LASIK eye surgery on her without recognizing that she had a relatively rare condition that made the surgery too risky.

In addition, the suit alleges Allara treated the patient while high.

"Upon information and belief, Dr. Allara examined and/or treated Sherry Dew while he was impaired and under the influence of cocaine and/or other illicit drugs," the suit reads.

According to the Board of Medicine's Web site, Allara has faced five malpractice allegations. The first was dismissed in 1994, and the following four settled for $40,000, $30,000, $75,000 and $900,000.

The last settlement, for surgery performed in 2003, was finalized in December 2007, according to the site.

Goodwin released Allara on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond. Allara faces up to four years in prison and fines of up to $250,000 when he is sentenced on July 17.

To contact staff writer Andrew Clevenger, use e-mail or call 348-1723.