UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. JAY M. SADRINIA, D.M.D. - Articles

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. JAY M. SADRINIA, D.M.D.

Posted by: Azya Thornton on Apr 16, 2025

Court: 6th Circuit Court (Published Opinions)

Attorneys 1: ARGUED: Benjamin C. Glassman, SQUIRE PATTON BOGGS (US) LLP, Cincinnati, Ohio, for Appellant.

Attorneys 2: ARGUED: Michael A. Rotker, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, Washington, D.C., for Appellee.

Attorneys 3: ON BRIEF: Benjamin C. Glassman, S. Chad Meredith, G. Luke Burton, SQUIRE PATTON BOGGS (US) LLP, Cincinnati, Ohio, Beau B. Brindley, LAW OFFICE OF BEAU B. BRINDLEY, Chicago, Illinois, for Appellant.

Attorneys 4: ON BRIEF: Michael A. Rotker, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, Washington, D.C., for Appellee.

Judge(s): MOORE, KETHLEDGE, and BLOOMEKATZ, Circuit Judges

Court Appealed: United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky at Covington

KETHLEDGE, Circuit Judge. Cheyenne Witt died of a morphine overdose after her dentist, Jay Sadrinia, prescribed her that medication twice in three days. A jury convicted Sadrinia of knowingly prescribing Witt a controlled substance without a legitimate medical purpose resulting in her death, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C). We hold that sufficient evidence supported Sadrinia’s conviction. But we agree with him that the district court improperly admitted—as “intrinsic evidence” of the conduct charged in the indictment— testimony about bad acts unrelated to that conduct. The government, on that point, does not even argue the contrary. We vacate Sadrinia’s convictions and remand his case for a new trial.

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