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A Clark County District Court jury today has found Dr. Harriston Bass Jr. guilty of second-degree murder and of illegally selling controlled substances.
Bass was responsible for the death of 38-year-old Gina Micali, prosecutors said, because she overdosed in October 2005 on pain relievers that Bass illegally sold her.
Micali was found dead at her home from what athorities described as an accidental overdose of the pain reliever hydrocodone, which she was taking for a sports injury.
Bass, 54, became the focus of an investigation in March 2006 after police found prescription drug bottles at the scene of a suicide. Bass has prescribed the drugs to the victim, but he was not facing charges in that case.
Bass had his license suspended by the state Board of Medical Examiners on June 16, 2006. In the 1990s, the board placed him on three years probation after finding he didn't properly care for patients. He was ordered to take 120 hours of medical education and to have another physician help him in surgeries. But the state board learned he never took the 120 hours of medical education.
Bass faces sentencing on April 22. He could receive 10 to 25 years in prison for second-degree murder, one to five years for each of 46 counts of selling drugs and one to six years for six counts of possession of drugs.
As a personal friend of Gina Micali, I am overwhelmed with relief that this docter will no longer be able to practice medicine ever again. I only wish that he was stopped in the early 90's and maybe we would still have her with us today. The world has lost an absolutely wonderful person who brought joy to all around her. Suicide was not in her. She loved life to the fullest. My hope is that justice continues on through to the sentencing. He deserves as much prison time as can be alloted to him.
As the mother of Jamie, the suicide victim found in March 2006, not mentioned by name in this article, I too am relieved that Harriston Bass cannot create any more grief for another family in this or any other city. Jamie's case may have been ruled a "suicide", but I will always know in my heart what really claimed his young life at 23, and who was responsible for "pushing the drugs" in his direction. My heart goes out to the family of Gina Micali, and all who have suffered from the loss of these wonderful people.