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OREM — A Mexican man accused of practicing as a dentist even though he has no license has pleaded guilty to charges leveled against him and will be deported.
Carlos Counter, 55, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful conduct by an unlicensed dentist, a third-degree felony, after an undercover special agent with the Utah Attorney General's Office found the man practicing dentistry in an Orem home. In exchange for his plea, a charge of distribution of a controlled substance, a third- degree felony, was dismissed.
Counter was sentenced to zero to five years in prison, but the prison time was suspended. He was sentenced to 50 days in the Utah County Jail and was ordered by 4th District Judge Fred Howard to not reenter the country illegally.
The health issue is pretty important. Lortab is very powerful. For an unlicensed dentist to be distributing these types of substances is very concerning.
–Jake Taylor
Counter was arrested after the special agent accompanied a former patient into a residence near 600 N. State in Orem.
"It (the house) has large, tinted windows in the front that prevent viewing inside," according to charging documents. "On no part of the outside premises are there any signs or writings suggesting there is a dental practice inside."
But the front room was set up "much like a doctor's office waiting room." An older woman in nurse's scrubs greeted them and asked them to take a seat. The police officer was able to see a room stocked with dental equipment and tools.
An older man then entered, identified himself as the dentist and escorted the officer and patient to the examination room. He said the patient's teeth were "really bad and needed work," but also said that the patient required "more than a 'casual five-minute visit,'" according to a search warrant affidavit filed in 3rd District Court.
In the meantime, Counter offered to give the patient "pain pills" until the patient returned for more work. He identified the pills as Lortab and offered them for $2 each, the affidavit states.
Counter later admitted to police that he was not a licensed dentist and had been distributing Lortab to patients, the charges state.
Assistant attorney general Jake Taylor said Counter overstayed his visa in the country and will be turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement upon his release. He said if Counter were to return to the country, he may have to serve the prison term, but could also face federal charges.
Taylor said this is the third case of its kind in the past year and a half and each are cause for concern.
"The health issue is pretty important," Taylor said. "Lortab is very powerful. For an unlicensed dentist to be distributing these types of substances is very concerning."
The source of the drugs remain under investigation.
Email:emorgan@ksl.com
