ATLANTA, July 2 (UPI) -- A Georgia doctor who treated professional wrestler Chris Benoit was arraigned Monday in Atlanta on charges of illegal drug distribution.
Dr. Phillippe C. Astin III, 52, of Carrolton, Ga., appeared before U.S. Magistrate Linda T. Walker on charges of illegally distributing Percocet, Adderall, Lorcet and Xanax.
U.S. Attorney David E. Nahmias said Astin is accused of prescribing the drugs "like candy, with little regard for appropriate medical practice or the recipients' health." Investigators estimated Astin prescribed 1 million dosage units of controlled substances in the last two years.
Benoit, his wife and son were found dead in an apparent murder-suicide at their Fayetteville, Ga., home last week and investigators found evidence Astin had prescribed drugs for them, including injectable anabolic steroids.
"Dr. Astin was identified as prescribing, on average, a 10-month supply of anabolic steroids to Mr. Benoit every three to four weeks from May 4, 2006, through May 9, 2007," a release from the Drug Enforcement Administration said.
