$50,000 bond set in Perry mammogram case

PERRY — A negotiated bond agreement was reached Thursday afternoon for a former radiology technician accused of improperly entering negative results on mammograms at Perry Hospital, her attorney says.

The agreement for a $50,000 bond for Rachael Michelle Rapraeger, 30, of Macon, was reached between her Macon attorney Floyd Buford and Houston County District Attorney Rabb Wilkerson.

Rapraeger is accused of entering negative results for 1,289 mammograms at Perry Hospital that were not read by a radiologist from Jan. 22, 2009, to April 1, 2010. Of the 1,289 mammograms entered as negative, 10 were actually positive, prosecutors said.

Perry Hospital is operated by Houston Healthcare System Inc.

Rapraeger was indicted Sept. 7 by a Houston County grand jury on 10 felony counts of computer forgery and 10 counts of misdemeanor reckless conduct.

Rapraeger is expected to post bond by Friday, Buford said Thursday afternoon.

The bond was conditioned on Rapraeger being on electronic monitoring, that she have no contact with any of the alleged victims and that she may not work or volunteer in any medical or health-related areas, attorneys said.

According to jail records, Rapraeger was working for an insurance company in Macon when she was indicted. She was dismissed from her radiology technician job April 6. Rapraeger may request an exception to house arrest as a part of her electronic monitoring in order to work, Buford said.

Rapraeger also was banished from Houston County as part of the agreement while on bond, except for court appearances and appointments related to the electronic monitoring, Buford said.

“We are pleased that she was granted bond,” Buford said.

The next step in the court process is Rapraeger’s arraignment at which she is expected to enter a plea of not guilty, Buford said. Rapraeger maintains her innocence, Buford said. An arraignment date had not been set as of Thursday afternoon, he said.

Rapraeger’s bonding hearing scheduled for Thursday morning was removed from Judge Edward D. Lukemire’s calendar after Buford and Wilkerson met briefly behind closed doors.

Wilkerson said Thursday afternoon that Lukemire had indicated that Rapraeger was a likely candidate for bond based on the bond criteria and gave attorneys the opportunity to work out the bond conditions.

Wilkerson said he believes that worked in the prosecution’s favor.

The bond criteria includes whether a person is a danger to the community or property, is a flight risk, is likely to commit another crime while on bond, or likely to influence witnesses, Wilkerson said.

Wilkerson noted that the granting of bond does not negate the seriousness of the offenses for which Rapraeger is charged.

Buford said Thursday morning that Rapraeger was a strong candidate for bond. He noted that the felony charges of computer forgery are non-drug and non-violent offenses.

Rapraeger has no prior criminal record and has close personal ties to Middle Georgia, Buford said. He said that she desires to return home to her husband and child.

Both Wilkerson and Buford said Thursday morning that it was premature to talk about anything potentially plea related.

Rapraeger did not appear in the courtroom Thursday. Her husband, Corey Rapraeger, waited outside the courtroom and talked briefly with Buford after the bond hearing request was withdrawn. Corey Rapraeger declined to comment.

To contact writer Becky Purser, call 256-9559.

This story was originally published October 1, 2010 at 12:00 AM with the headline "$50,000 bond set in Perry mammogram case."