Columbia doctor who was indicted on federal fraud counts is released from jail

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia doctor who was indicted on 38 federal charges was released from jail on Monday morning.

Dr. Jonathan Morris, who owns Columbia Urgent Care on North Providence Road, is charged with 15 counts of illegally prescribing drugs and 23 counts of health care fraud.

Morris was booked into the Crawford County Jail on April 22 and was released 7:30 a.m. Monday following a judge’s order.

Prosecutors had argued that Morris is a flight risk because of his relationship with someone in Greece, but a Monday court filing shows a judge claimed “the Government failed to prove by clear and convincing evidence that no conditions or combination of conditions will assure the safety of the community or Defendant’s appearance.”

Conditions of his release include giving up his DEA registration and passport, wearing an ankle monitor while on house arrest and not being allowed to practice medicine.

Morris is accused of giving prescription drugs to friends and “people suffering from substance use disorders and those with whom he had sexual relationships,” previous reporting shows.

Court documents also make several references to text messages he sent to alleged witnesses that he propositioned drugs and sexual favors; as well as several allegations of sexual assault, some of which were outlined in a previous Boone County discrimination case.