Dani Marie Schofield, 36, arraigned on 44 counts of second-degree assault
By Kevin Opsahl, Rogue Valley Times
The former Asante registered nurse accused in a sprawling drug-diversion case pleaded not guilty during her first court appearance on Friday.
Dani Marie Schofield, 36, appeared virtually in Jackson County Circuit Court for arraignment on 44 counts of second-degree assault in connection to allegations that she harmed dozens of patients by stealing fentanyl from their IV bags and replacing it with tap water. The charges cover July 2022 to July 2023.
The alleged conduct caused serious infections in patients at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center, but medical experts interviewed during a months-long police investigation were unanimous in their conclusion that they could not directly link patient deaths to the infections, according to a Thursday news release from the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office.
Schofield was arrested at her Eagle Point home Thursday afternoon, a day after a Jackson County grand jury indicted her on the felony charges.
Under Oregon law, second-degree assault is a Measure 11 crime that carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and 10 months in prison if the defendant is convicted. Patrick Green, the chief deputy district attorney and lead prosecutor, said in an email Friday that it is possible Schofield, if convicted, could get more prison time with consecutive sentences.
Multiple media outlets covered the proceedings Friday inside a courtroom that is not much larger than a classroom.
When Judge Laura Cromwell called Schofield’s name, it took at least 35 seconds before Schofield appeared remotely from the Jackson County Jail in an orange jumpsuit.
Schofield said “not guilty” in a hushed voice when Cromwell asked her how she wanted to plead.
Cromwell told Schofield she does not qualify for a court-appointed attorney and she would have to find her own. Schofield said she has an attorney, but did not say who; Cromwell said she expects that person to file a notice of representation before moving forward with the case.
Schofield spoke on her own behalf throughout the hearing. An attorney was not listed for her in court records Friday afternoon.
Following that exchange, Schofield asked, “Can I speak freely for a moment?” Cromwell told her anything she said about the case would be used against her.
Schofield said jail officials placed her on lockdown for her own protection ever since Medford police went public with the case. As a result, Schofield said she has not been given her medication or contact lenses and barely has running water in her cell.
Cromwell said Schofield could contact the jail’s medical unit with those concerns. An attorney can also assist with those issues, the judge said.
Cromwell set bail at $4 million for Schofield and added that if she is able to post it, she would be placed on pretrial monitoring.
The conditions would include having no contact with any surviving Asante victims, or Asante or any of its property unless it is for emergency services.
At Green’s request, Cromwell imposed an additional pretrial release condition that Schofield not provide care for people over 65 or who have disabilities.
Schofield, who had shoulder-length brown hair with blue-purple streaks, pulled her hair behind her ears and pursed her lips a few times during the hearing. At other times, her eyes darted nervously and she sniffled.
At one point, Schofield covered her mouth with her hand before wiping tears from both eyes.
An Asante patient who said he had been under Schofield’s care declined to comment after the hearing.
Schofield’s next court appearance is scheduled for June 24.
Reporter Kevin Opsahl can be reached at 458-488-2034 or [email protected]. This story first appeared in the Rogue Valley Times.
