Former Va pathologist’s trial rescheduled for 2020

FAYETTEVILLE — The trial has been rescheduled for a former veterans hospital pathologist charged with involuntary manslaughter in three patient deaths.

Robert Morris Levy, 53, of Fayetteville is now set for trial Sept. 8, 2020. Levy’s trial date was originally set for Oct. 7.

A judge ordered the new date at the request of Levy’s defense attorneys, court records show. The U.S. Attorney’s Office didn’t object. U.S. District Judge Timothy L. Brooks granted the new date after a telephone conference with defense and prosecution attorneys Wednesday.

Levy was indicted Aug. 16. The indictment says he missed the diagnosis with fatal results in three cases while working impaired.

Levy used a potent, dangerous drug to achieve the effects of intoxication by a method that would not show up on blood or urine tests, the indictment says.

The Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks in Fayetteville required Levy to submit blood and urine tests after he was found working while impaired in 2016.

His efforts to remain intoxicated while passing the tests was discovered after the Fayetteville Police Department arrested him March 1, 2018, for driving while intoxicated. The three breathalyzer tests given Levy immediately following his arrest reported an “interfering substance” each time, police records show.

Levy’s role at the health care system was to examine test results of tissue samples to determine illnesses, if any.

The indictment also charges him with 12 counts each of wire fraud and mail fraud for actions to evade his blood and urine test results and four counts of giving false statements to investigators. He faces a theoretical maximum of 524 years in prison and fines totaling $7.75 million, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Levy remains held without bond in the Washington County Detention Center. He has a bond hearing set for Sept. 25.

Levy