Published Dec. 23 in the Henry County Local

EMT pleads guilty to drug trafficking

By MELISSA BLANKENSHIP
Henry County Local

NEW CASTLE — Former Henry County EMT and New Castle EMS President Chris Dunavent pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges last Thursday, over one year after his May 2003 arrest.

Dunavent was arrested last year by the Eminence Police Department after several months of investigation into illegal sales of prescription medication in the area. According to EPD Chief Mount Hadden, Dunavent sold five prescription painkillers for $20 to a confidential informant working for the department.

A Henry County Grand Jury indicted Dunavent on the charge of trafficking a controlled substance within 1,000 yards of a school in June 2003. Dunavent, who was a write-in candidate for county coroner in 2002, maintained his innocence for several months claiming he'd been "framed." However, on Thursday, Dunavent pleaded guilty to the amended charge of trafficking a controlled substance, third degree, a misdemeanor.

Following his plea, Dunavent was sentenced to 270 days, probated for two years, but he will serve no time in jail as long as he follows the conditions of the sentence. He will be required to complete a drug abuse treatment program and submit to random drug testing.

According to Perry Arnold, the special prosecutor assigned to the case, the felony charge was amended down to a misdemeanor for several reasons and with the consent of the Eminence Police Department.

"The tape recording involved - what we refer to as the buy tape - was very poor," Arnold said. "It was very difficult to understand what was being said on the tape."

Arnold also said that another factor that contributed to the reduced charge was that Dunavent suffers from a medical condition that would "make it impractical for him to be incarcerated." Dunavent also had no prior felony history, Arnold said, although questions surrounding Dunavent's past criminal record resulted in an inquiry into the county's policies regarding hiring practices.

Shortly after his arrest, Dunavent resigned from the New Castle EMS and from his job with the Henry County EMS. At the time, information about previous criminal charges against him prompted Henry County Fiscal Court to re-evaluate its procedure on securing criminal background checks for all county employees.

In May 1997, Dunavent was found guilty of felony possession of a controlled substance, first offense. However, Dunavent claimed the felony charge was later dismissed. No charges or convictions appear on Dunavent's record after 1998.

According to former EMS officials, this charge did not appear on a background check performed on Dunavent when he was one of the first EMTs hired for the county's paid EMS service in 1997. When he was rehired as an EMT in about 2002, a second check was not done as one was already on file.

A new employee personnel policy manual was adopted in March 2004 that addressed some, but not all, of those issues.

According to Henry County Judge-Executive John Logan Brent, background checks have always been performed on paid or volunteer EMS personnel and continue to be, although other county employees are not subject to a background check. No policies were implemented for drug screening outside of CDL requirements due to the costs associated with such testing, according to Brent.

Prior to being hired, all paid employees of the Henry County EMS must provide information to fulfill a checklist of items including a letter of recommendation, AIDS certification, proof of drivers training, background check and a physical examination, among others.

While policy did not change regarding the background checks and drug screening, the county did find it necessary to address possible actions, including verbal reprimand, suspension or termination, that could be taken against employees who were charged with inappropriate conduct.

The policy also outlines consequences for specific "inexcusable breaches of employment," and one speaks directly to drug-related incidents. "Any employee caught on or off the job with illegal drugs will be relieved of duty until a court ruling is reached - if found guilty it will be grounds for termination."

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