Former Stoddard County doctor pleads guilty to drug charges

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A former Stoddard County doctor pleaded guilty Wednesday to drug-related felonies and was released to enter a residential substance abuse counseling program in Florida.

Dr. Donna Jo Allmon, a family practice physician whose last known address was in Advance, Mo., entered her plea during her arraignment before Presiding Circuit Judge Stephen Sharp on seven felonies of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and felony counts of possession of a controlled substance.

During that appearance, Allmon waived arraignment and pleaded guilty to one fraud charge and one possession charge, according to Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Briney Welborn.

Allmon had been accused of using a fictitious name to obtain prescription medications, as well as illegally possessing the drugs.

"It was an open plea," meaning Sharp can consider the full range of punishment at sentencing, Welborn said. "There was no agreement as to punishment."

After accepting her plea, Welborn said, Sharp ordered a sentencing assessment report and set sentencing for 10:30 a.m. Sept. 15.

"She was also released, over my objection, to go to a treatment program basically for doctors," Welborn said. "... It boils down to she was released to her sister to go to St. Louis and get on an airplane.

"When she lands in Tampa, someone will be there to pick her up. Tampa, Fla., is a long ways away; it's a residential treatment [facility] used by physicians. It's not like she's taking off."

After completing the minimum 90-day program, Allmon will return to the custody of the Stoddard County sheriff for sentencing.

Welborn said he hopes the treatment program works for Allmon.

At the time Allmon was charged, a spokesman with the Missouri Board of Healing Arts reported Allmon's license had expired Jan. 30 and "there is no disciplinary action."