WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- A former South Florida pain doctor who had initially faced first-degree murder charges in the overdose deaths of two patients has reached a plea deal.
News outlets report 64-year-old John Christensen faces up to five years in prison after pleading guilty Thursday to two counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to traffic oxycodone.
The charges involved the 2007 deathof 47-year-old Florence Faye Garrett and the 2008 death of 31-year-old Pawel Staniszewski. Both lived in West Palm Beach.
Prosecutors said in court filings that Christensen overprescribed pain pills without examining patients and ignored strong signs of drug addiction.
Christensen had offices in West Palm Beach, Port St. Lucie and Daytona Beach.
His sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 6.
