A former suburban podiatrist sentenced to six years in prison for trading prescription drugs for sex served less than two years before being released to electronic confinement in Gov. Pat Quinn’s new program to save the state money by letting out non-violent offenders who are a year or closer to their parole date, prison officials confirm.

Illinois Department of Corrections spokeswoman Januari Smith said Steven Loheide, formerly of Algonquin, was released on Dec. 17. Loheide, 65, likely received credit for good behavior and previously served jail time while his case made its way through the courts, Smith said.

She said that until his parole is granted, Loheide will have to get prior approval from his parole officer before leaving his home, and he is also required to wear at all times an electronic ankle bracelet monitoring his movements. His projected parole date, according to the IDOC, is July 17, 2010.

Loheide pleaded guilty in Kane County Circuit Court in April, 2008, to drug and eavesdropping charges, a month after surrendering his medical license.

At the time, prosecutors had alleged Loheide traded controlled substances for sexual acts with patients, even videotaping some in his East Dundee offices. Police at the time said they’d documented 26 occasions on which Loheide gave Vicodin to women without prescriptions, and prosecutors said he’d taped himself having sex with 29 women from 2005 to 2007.

– Georgia Garvey

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