Former Officer Mark Fisher Arrested for Distributing Prescription Pain Narcotics

Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane today announced the arrest of a former Allegheny County police officer on charges that he participated in and directed the activities of an illegal prescription drug ring.

Evidence and testimony regarding the alleged illegal activity was presented to a statewide investigating grand jury, which recommended the criminal charges being filed today. The grand jury identified the defendant as Mark Fisher, 34, currently incarcerated in the Westmoreland County Prison. Fisher is a former police officer with the Turtle Creek Police Department.

According to the grand jury, Fisher, who developed an addiction to pain medications following an injury, recruited several individuals to assist him in distributing prescription pain narcotics throughout western Pennsylvania. After a period of time Fisher allegedly stopped using other individuals and began to pass prescriptions at various pharmacies in either his own name or the name of his wife.

The grand jury found that Fisher obtained the pills by using illegal prescriptions that were passed at several pharmacies throughout Westmoreland and Allegheny counties.

Pennsylvania has the fourteenth highest rate of drug overdoses in the country, most of which are caused by prescription drugs. Attorney General Kane reiterated her support for a prescription monitoring program in the Commonwealth because it would serve as an additional tool to enable health practitioners and law enforcement in identifying individuals involved in the illegal trade of doctor shopping and dealing in fraudulent prescriptions.

Attorney General Kane noted that this is an active and ongoing investigation and additional arrests are anticipated.

Fisher is charged with one count of acquiring a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge; one count of possession with the intent to deliver; one count of criminal conspiracy; and one count of impersonating a public servant.

The case will be prosecuted in Westmoreland County by Senor Deputy Attorney General Mark Serge of the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Section.

Former Officer Jared Rohrig Faces New Charge of Illegally Hunting Deer

The ex-Orange police officer accused of posing as his identical twin to lure a woman to his bedroom and then raping her after she realized she was with the wrong man now also faces a charge that he was illegally hunting deer.

During Jared S. Rohrig’s brief court appearance Tuesday, Superior Court Judge Eddie Rodriguez Jr. said he would preside over pretrial proceedings involving the misdemeanor charge of violating deer hunting regulations, and the felony charges of first-degree sexual assault and criminal impersonation.

Rohrig, 25, of 7 Flax Mill Lane, was arrested Oct. 17 after a Department of Environmental Protection conservation officer came upon Rohrig perched in a tree stand with a hunting bow, but no hunting license, said DEP spokesman Dennis Schain.

Rohrig was allegedly hunting on Beard Sand and Gravel Co. property. It was deer hunting season, but failure to have a hunting license carries a $200 to $400 fine and up to 60 days in prison.

Rohrig was free on $50,000 bail from his August sexual assault arrest when he was arrested in connection with the hunting incident.

Rohrig is accused of pretending to be his twin brother, Joseph, to have sex with a woman who came to the Flax Mill Lane home to see Joseph in July. In statements to police, the alleged victim said after she realized she was with the wrong Rohrig, she was forced back onto the bed, and Jared Rohrig continued the sexual encounter against her will.

Jared Rohrig has pleaded innocent to charges stemming from the alleged sexual assault, but has yet to enter a plea to the illegal hunting charge.

Bridgeport defense attorney Ed Gavin said he received Tuesday a computer disc from State’s Attorney Kevin D. Lawlor containing information about the alleged sexual assault. The case was continued to Feb. 23 to give both sides time to review the evidence in the case.

“Hopefully, we’ll be able to have substantive discussions before the next court date,” Rodriguez said.

Four motions Gavin previously filed, including a motion to dismiss the case, were not heard or ruled on Tuesday.

“It was only a status conference,” Gavin said outside the courtroom.

Gavin said the motions to dismiss the charges, suppress certain evidence, have other evidence preserved and to be notified of any misconduct that Rohrig will not be charged with, but may still be used at trial, are routine and filed in almost every criminal case. A hearing date for those motions has not been set.

Former Officer Jared Rohrig Pleads Not Guilty to Posing As Twin for Sex

A former Connecticut police officer has pleaded not guilty to allegations he posed as his twin brother to have sex with a woman, and then raped her when she realized the ruse and tried to leave.

Twenty-five-year-old Jared Rohrig of Milford appeared in Milford Superior Court on Wednesday. He says he's innocent of first-degree sexual assault and criminal impersonation charges.

The victim told Milford police that she was in a relationship with Rohrig's brother, Joseph, and went to see him at the Rohrigs' home in July.

Police say the woman realized during sex that she was with Jared Rohrig, because he didn't have a tattoo like his brother. She alleges Jared Rohrig continued the sex against her will when she tried to leave.

Jared Rohrig resigned from the Orange police department last month.
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