TEXARKANA, Texas -A former registered nurse who was caught on video breaking into a medication safe at Healthcare Express clinic in Texarkana pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court to tampering with consumer products.
Clifford Russell Harris, 38, emptied a vial of fentanyl, a powerful narcotic that has gained popularity as a street drug, and filled the vial with another substance Dec. 29, 2018, according to felony information in the Texarkana Division of the Eastern District of Texas.
Harris appeared Tuesday morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Caroline Craven with Texarkana lawyer Michael Friedman in Texarkana's downtown federal building. He will return to court for sentencing after the court has received a pre-sentence investigation report with a recommendation for punishment under federal sentencing guidelines. Harris faces up to 10 years in federal prison.
According to a Texas Board of Nursing order revoking Harris' licenses as a registered nurse and as a licensed vocational nurse Nov. 12, 2019, Harris did not appear for a hearing before the board and a default order was entered ending his nursing career.
The order, acquired by the Gazette through a Freedom of Information Act request, includes a finding that Harris was captured on video surveillance accessing a locked safe that contained controlled substances at the Richmond Road clinic.
He was "observed on video surveillance picking the lock while the Pain Management Clinic was closed," the order states. "Subsequently, tampered vials of Fentanyl and Morphine were discovered."
The conduct Harris pleaded guilty to includes "reckless disregard for the risk that another person would be placed in danger of death or bodily injury, and under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to such risk" by tampering with a medical product meant for use by a consumer.
Bowie County criminal records indicate Harris was arrested Jan. 4, 2019, on state charges of tampering/fabricating physical evidence and two counts of possession of a controlled substance. He was released on bonds totaling $35,000 the same day. Those charges have been dismissed, likely in light of the federal prosecution.
Craven allowed Harris to remain free on a $10,000 unsecured appearance bond. In addition to up to 10 years in federal prison, Harris could be fined up to $250,000. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Hornok asked Craven to require that Harris be required to undergo random drug testing while his case awaits sentencing and Craven granted the request.