UPDATE: Monday 5/4 @ 10:15am
CATTLETSBURG, Ky. (WSAZ) -- A local heart doctor arrested on drug charges has agreed to a plea deal.

Doctor John Van Deren of Ashland agreed to the plea Monday morning in Boyd County Circuit Court.

Van Deren pleaded guilty to two felony counts of possession of a controlled substance, two misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance, and one misdemeanor count of DUI.

According to the plea agreement, Van Deren will avoid jail time by entering a 2-year diversion program.

The judge said at the end of the 2 years the charges could be stricken from his record.

Van Deren was arrested during a traffic stop on I-64 back in November.

Kentucky State Police charged Van Deren with possession of cocaine, driving under the influence with a suspended license, and a prescription not in a proper container.

According to the KSP report at the time, the doctor failed field sobriety tests. Troopers also said that he admitted to being high on OxyContin and cocaine while he was driving.

Earlier this year, Van Deren rejected a plea agreement in the case. His medical license is currently suspended.

Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for the latest information.

"We'll continue our efforts to see if this case can be resolved informally," David Mussetter said. "I'm optimistic we can reach some sort of agreement."

Assistant Commonwealth Attorney Jeremy Clark said the 50-year-old Van Deren is "being treated just like any other first offender."

A King's Daughters Medical Center spokesperson said Van Deren is on a leave of absence, and the hospital supports the well-respected physician and will decide on his future employment when the legal matter is resolved. He currently is not practicing medicine.

Lawyers with Kentucky's State Medical Board will only say that Van Deren's case is under investigation.

Van Deren has another lawyer working to have the doctor keep his medical license. Van Deren also is working with the state's Impaired Physicians Committee, a group that treats and rehabs addicted doctors.
They said they have great success in helping doctors recover from drug and alcohol addiction.

As a result, a May 4th trial date was set for Dr. John Van Deren.

Following the hearing, Assistant Commonwealth Attorney Jeremy Clark told WSAZ.com that Van Deren's attorney rejected the plea agreement.

Clark says that agreement would have included diversion and no jail time.

Kentucky State Police charged Van Deren with possession of cocaine, driving under the influence with a suspended license, and a prescription not in a proper container.

According to the KSP report at the time, the doctor failed field sobriety tests. Troopers also said that he admitted to being high on OxyContin and cocaine while he was driving.

Van Deren's attorney left immediately following the hearing, so we were not able to get a comment from him about the case.

Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for updated information.

Doctor John Van Deren of Ashland was arrested during a traffic stop on I-64 back in November.

Kentucky State Police charged Van Deren with possession of cocaine, driving under the influence with a suspended license, and a prescription not in a proper container.

According to the KSP report at the time, the doctor failed field sobriety tests. Troopers also said that he admitted to being high on OxyContin and cocaine while he was driving.

Back in November, The Commonwealth Attorney’s office told us there was enough evidence for probable cause, so the case would bypass the grand jury and head straight to trial.

Following his arrest, Van Deren spent time in rehab.

According to the court docket, Van Deren is expected to enter a plea in Boyd County Circuit Court at 9:30; Details of the plea have not been released.

Dr. Van Deren is a Cardiologist at Kings Daughters Medical center.