CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A Charleston eye doctor who admitted that he provided prescriptions for hydro-codone in exchange for information about his then-girlfriend was sentenced to five months in prison in federal court Monday.

In addition, Chief U.S. District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin ordered Dr. R. David Allara to spend the first five months of his year of supervised release on home confinement.

In April, Allara pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the obtaining of hydrocodone by fraud. Allara voluntarily surrendered his license to practice medicine in August 2007, and went into a rehab program to treat his cocaine addiction.

With dozens of supporters in the gallery, Allara choked up as he apologized to the public, his family, his colleagues and his profession.

"This is a life-changing event for me," Allara told Goodwin. "It saved my life."

The former captain of the West Virginia University basketball team said he feels confident in his recovery from drug and alcohol addiction, and that he hopes to return to being a productive member of society.

Defense attorney Duane Rosenlieb said Allara has gone above and beyond the requirements of his treatment program. Although Allara is required to attend three Alcoholics Anonymous meetings a week, he has gone to 14 in the past seven days, Rosenlieb said.

According to Rosenlieb's sentencing memorandum, Allara began using cocaine in 2005.

"Dr. Allara does not blame his cocaine abuse for [his criminal] offenses, although it was during that period he wrote prescriptions to friends of his girlfriend to obtain information about her activities," the memo states.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A Charleston eye doctor who admitted that he provided prescriptions for hydro-codone in exchange for information about his then-girlfriend was sentenced to five months in prison in federal court Monday.

In addition, Chief U.S. District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin ordered Dr. R. David Allara to spend the first five months of his year of supervised release on home confinement.

In April, Allara pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the obtaining of hydrocodone by fraud. Allara voluntarily surrendered his license to practice medicine in August 2007, and went into a rehab program to treat his cocaine addiction.

With dozens of supporters in the gallery, Allara choked up as he apologized to the public, his family, his colleagues and his profession.

"This is a life-changing event for me," Allara told Goodwin. "It saved my life."

The former captain of the West Virginia University basketball team said he feels confident in his recovery from drug and alcohol addiction, and that he hopes to return to being a productive member of society.

Defense attorney Duane Rosenlieb said Allara has gone above and beyond the requirements of his treatment program. Although Allara is required to attend three Alcoholics Anonymous meetings a week, he has gone to 14 in the past seven days, Rosenlieb said.

According to Rosenlieb's sentencing memorandum, Allara began using cocaine in 2005.

"Dr. Allara does not blame his cocaine abuse for [his criminal] offenses, although it was during that period he wrote prescriptions to friends of his girlfriend to obtain information about her activities," the memo states.

Goodwin imposed a $10,000 fine, payable in two installments.

Allara has a reputation as a fine doctor, but he abused his position of public and private trust by issuing fraudulent prescriptions, Goodwin said.

Goodwin said Allara's sentence, which was at the bottom end of the 10 to 16 months in prison recommended by federal sentencing guidelines, was one of the shorter sentences he has given for a drug offense.

While the sentence reflects the seriousness of Allara's crime, "it pales in comparison to the mandatory five-year minimum sentence for anyone possessing 5 grams of crack cocaine with the intent to distribute," Goodwin said.

Goodwin took note of Allara's ongoing efforts to stay sober, and said he would recommend that the state Board of Medicine reinstate his license as soon as possible.

"It would be a loss to the community to lose your services," he said.

Goodwin ordered Allara to self-report to prison by Sept. 15.

Reach Andrew Clevenger at acleven...@wvgazette.com or 348-1723.