Former Huskies softball doctor sentenced to home confinement

SEATTLE – A former University of Washington softball team doctor who was known to students as “Dr. Feelgood” was sentenced Monday by a U.S. District Court judge to 60 days home confinement and 500 hours of community service for illegally obtaining prescription drugs.

William Scheyer, 77, agreed to stop practicing medicine last fall in a settlement with state officials and pleaded guilty in January. He admitted he obtained narcotics prescriptions in the names of at least one UW student, a staff member of his office and others without their knowledge and he kept little or no record when he doled out the drugs.

Scheyer apologized at the sentencing and said: “All I wanted was to provide my patients with the best possible care when they needed it. I believe I did that.”

Judge James L. Robart said the sentencing decision was difficult because the seriousness of the offense was at odds with the compassionate doctor portrayed by his supporters in letters to the court. Dozens of his supporters attended the sentencing, some from as far away as Japan.

The government agreed that no jail time was warranted, but asked for 90 days of home confinement, noting that Scheyer had stockpiled more than 18,000 doses of painkillers such as Vicodan and Oxycontin and dispensed them willy-nilly.

“That does put individuals at risk,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisca Borichewski.

The probation office recommended 60 days of home confinement, and Scheyer asked for zero. He hoped to be able to spend the summer volunteering with young people.

“I’m not a threat,” he told the judge.

Scheyer, of Kirkland, was the softball team’s volunteer physician over four years after spending more than a decade as team doctor for the football, track and basketball teams.