Drawbaugh Enters Plea Agreement In Highland Medical Center Fraud Case

Monterey, VA – On Friday September 10th, former Highland Medical Center Executive Director D. Bradley Drawbaugh appeared in the Highland County Circuit Court to face 18 criminal charges ranging from perjury and embezzlement to obtaining money under false pretenses. He faced Circuit Court Judge Humes J. Franklin, II.

When hired by the Highland Medical Center in February of 2008, Drawbaugh claimed to hold a Ph.d degree. He served as executive director and chief financial officer of the Highland Medical Center for almost two years. When the centers’ Board of Directors asked him to present documentation to back up his doctorate, he did not produce the requested evidence.

He was subsequently fired as executive director in March of 2010. At the trial Friday Drawbaugh did admit to the court that he does not hold a college degree.

Therefore, Drawbaugh plead guilty to one count of obtaining money under false pretenses in the amount of $200.00 and entered into a plea agreement.

Per the plea agreement Drawbaugh is sentenced to five years in the penitentiary, with five years suspended meaning he does not have to do jail time, and five years of unsupervised probation. He’ll have to pay the Highland Medical Center $7500.00 over the course of the next two years and pay all court costs.

The remainder of the charges were declared Nolle Prosequi which means the charges will not be pursued by Commonwealth Special Prosecutor Chris Singleton.

Judge Franklin warned Drawbaugh that if he breaks the law in any way or does not pay the Highland Medical Center back he will have to return back to court and serve the remainder of his sentence.