NEWTON, N.C. — A well-known doctor in Catawba County appeared before a judge Wednesday morning on a felony drug charge in Newton.
Dr. John Kessel is accused of drug trafficking after deputies said they found more than 200 pills of Oxycodone in his car during a traffic stop.
RELATED: Deputies say 240 Oxycodone pills found in doctor's car
The court appearance was brief, lasting less than five minutes and immediately afterwards Channel 9 tried to talk with Kessel about the allegations, but he would not answer our questions.
In court, he appeared before a judge with his attorney at his side after deputies charged him with trafficking opium. Deputies said they found those pills inside his car during a traffic stop less than a mile from the medical clinic and pharmacy where he worked in Hickory.
Channel 9 has learned that Kessel can no longer prescribe medication after surrendering his DEA registration number.
Kessel's attorney declined to discuss the case with Channel 9.
The judge set Kessel's probable cause hearing for November 19.
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