A Missouri dentist entangled in a 2023 fatal hit-and-run case has pleaded not guilty in a separate case in which he allegedly bought hundreds of dollars' worth of fentanyl across the street from his dental office, according to multiple stories published on June 30.
Dr. John "Jay" Joseph, who continues to await trial in the hit-and-run case in which his son allegedly struck and killed a 60-year-old man in August 2023, pleaded not guilty on June 30 to drug trafficking and unlawful use of a weapon. When Joseph, who operates a practice in Joplin, MO, was arrested for the drug deal, he was allegedly in possession of a stolen 9-mm handgun, according to the stories.
On March 5, authorities reportedly saw Joseph exit his pickup truck in a retail parking lot and engage in a drug deal. Police detained him after the dentist returned to his truck.
Police searched Joseph and purportedly found a package containing 11 g of fentanyl in his pocket. A search of the truck recovered 1 g of fentanyl, multiple types of drug paraphernalia consistent with fentanyl ingestion, and a 9-mm handgun, according to the probable cause statement.
Joseph allegedly told police that he paid $600 in exchange for the package of fentanyl. Police learned later that the gun Joseph had in his truck had been reported stolen from a home in Joplin, according to the statement.
In the fall of 2024, Joseph and his teenage son, Rocco Joseph, pleaded not guilty for their alleged roles in the hit-and-run accident that killed Gary LaTurner in Kansas. Both were charged with leaving the scene of a fatality accident, and the elder was also charged with contributing to a child's misconduct or deprivations.
The teenager's vehicle allegedly struck LaTurner, of Galena, KS, at about 11:30 p.m. on August 19, 2023, and didn't stop. The father and son allegedly returned to the scene about 40 minutes later. Authorities claim video from a business near the accident site revealed that the dentist returned to the scene of the crash, illuminated LaTurner with the headlights of his truck and left the area without contacting police.
Authorities say LaTurner was still alive when Joseph returned to the scene. The coroner reported that LaTurner died about eight hours after the father and son left the scene. LaTurner's body was found in a ditch the next day.
Also, Joseph’s dental license is in jeopardy. In April, the Missouri Dental Board filed a petition to revoke his dental license due to his reported run-ins with the law.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
