49°F
weather icon Windy

Board OKs psychologist’s return to practice; agreement cites drug abuse problems, omits murder charge

A psychologist accused of killing his wife and staging her death as a suicide can start practicing medicine again in less than four months, the Nevada Board of Psychological Examiners decided Friday, July 15.

Suspected of abusing drugs and obtaining prescription drugs from patients, Gregory “Brent” Dennis, who prosecutors say poisoned attorney Susan Winters inside their Henderson home, also must undergo up to seven years of drug treatment, the seven-member panel ruled as they signed a settlement agreement that made no mention of the murder charge.

“It’s clear that the board members do not know what Brent Dennis was arrested for,” Keith Williams, a lawyer for the Winters family, told a Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter after the meeting. “We’re confident that they did not know what they were voting on today.”

Henderson police arrested Dennis on the murder charge in February.

Without mentioning that Winters’ January 2015 death had been ruled a suicide for more than a year before Dennis’ arrest or delving into the extent of his drug habit, the agreement cited February media reports that stated Dennis “has a substance abuse problem and has been purchasing and/or obtaining controlled substances from a known drug dealer as well as his patients.”

The Review-Journal reported a series of stories that detailed allegations of the lengths to which authorities believe he went to poison Winters and cover up the slaying.

Under the agreement, Dennis did not admit to the allegations of drug abuse but acknowledged that the board could find evidence that the allegations are true.

“The only thing you’re looking at is the alleged facts here, and the alleged facts here are being resolved by this agreement,” said the board’s attorney, Deputy Attorney General Sarah Bradley. “If something happens with a different matter, then there may be a new complaint filed, and it would be just a new matter.”

No one on the board discussed the murder charge during the more than 30 minutes in which they reviewed the agreement. Dennis, who ran a Boulder City mental health clinic before his license was suspended in February, faces a preliminary hearing on the murder charge next month.

Henderson police alleged that Dennis lied to police about his wife’s death and had a financial motive to kill her.

Dennis stood to inherit roughly $2 million, including a $1 million life insurance policy, upon his wife’s death and was dealing with a cocaine addiction that was draining his finances, according to an arrest report.

Since his arrest, Dennis has undergone extensive drug counseling, according to his attorney Richard Schonfeld.

Dennis passed four random drug tests, attended more than 30 classes related to chemical dependency, along with 95 narcotics anonymous classes. He also entered an aftercare program and, in anticipation of the agreement being signed, made an appointment for a forensic evaluation that was held Tuesday, July 18, according to his lawyer.

“We believe that Dr. Dennis has demonstrated that he will use all effort possible to alleviate that concern and continue to engage in his therapy,” Schonfeld said.

Family members of Winters who attended the board meeting Friday said they were “sorely upset” at the outcome.

“That board is a farce,” her mother, Avis Winters, said.

Williams, the family attorney, added: “It seems like Brent is getting every break. We’re all extremely frustrated by it.”

Contact David Ferrara at dferrara@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039. Follow @randompoker on Twitter.

MOST READ
THE LATEST
Council tees up multiple pet issues

Long-running issues involving pets in Boulder City are about to heat up again as three resolutions were introduced at this Tuesday’s council meeting. Resolutions have to be introduced in a meeting prior to them being discussed or voted on. These resolutions are scheduled to be discussed and acted upon in the council’s Feb. 25 meeting.

City continues dark-sky initiative

When driving around town, some may have noticed that many of the city’s street lights have a different look to them.

Airport development readies for takeoff

The city council discussed and provided direction to city staff Tuesday on a plan to develop additional hangars at the Boulder City Municipal Airport as well as development of a larger area for multiple uses including additional hangars.

Downtown Disney

This past Saturday, more than 200 people donned their best Disney outfits for the monthly Wine Walk, hosted by the Boulder City Chamber of Commerce. There were nearly two dozen downtown locations for attendees to stop for wine, including those pictured at the Boulder City Company Store, Beer Zombies and Hangar 502. Each walk has a theme, with the next being March 8 with the theme of Vegas Golden Knights.

Removed city gate causes concern

On Jan. 28, School Resource Officer Eric Prunty, who is assigned to BCHS by the Boulder City Police Department but also serves the three other public schools, contacted Garrett Junior High Principal Melanie Teemant regarding “a campus security issue.”

The bond between Boulder City and Searchlight

If you talk to the staff at Harry Reid Elementary School in Searchlight, you may hear them describe their campus as “the heart of the community” or “the jewel of the desert.”

Council gives lake-view lot to chamber

After a very short introduction by city staff and without discussion, the city council voted unanimously last week to give a 50-foot-square piece of city-owned land to the Boulder City Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

20-year lease extension up for vote

The gun club was not the only entity with lease extension business before the city council in their meeting last week.

Commercial zoning in Eldorado approved

The going-on-a-year-long process of adding four acres of land to Boulder City and approving it for commercial use is all over except the shouting as the city council voted unanimously and without discussion as part of the consent agenda to approve the changes to the city’s land use map as well as amending the zoning map to allow for future commercial development.

Out of this world: A look at Fisher Space Pen

In a popular episode of “Seinfeld,” appropriately entitled “The Pen,” Jerry and Elaine travel to Florida to see his parents. There, a neighbor, Jack Klompus, shows off a pen that the astronauts used in space because of its ability to still write, even when upside-down.