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LANCASTER – A local business owner is facing charges for hiding his son’s theft of narcotics from a Carroll-based pharmaceutical provider.

John L. Hunter, 70, of Granville, is facing one charge of obstructing justice, a third-degree felony, for failing to report a theft of drugs by his son. Hunter is the owner and a pharmacist for Carroll-based Heritage Healthcare, Inc.

Court documents indicate that Hunter instructed another to falsify pharmaceutical inventory documents to cover up his son’s theft of drugs. According to the company’s website, John Hunter has been the CEO of the business since 1992.

Brett Hunter, 35, of Lancaster, has been charged with theft of drugs, a fourth-degree felony, and aggravated possession of drugs, a second-degree felony. According to court documents, Brett is accused of taking oxycodone from Heritage Healthcare Services Inc. on or about Dec. 2, 2016. Brett worked as customer service representative for the business.

Prosecutor Kyle Witt says although Brett was an employee at Heritage, he was in an area of the business he should not have been that allowed him access to controlled substances.

The aggravated possession of drugs charge indicates that the amount of oxycodone that Brett took was equal to or more than five times the bulk amount but less than 50 times the bulk amount. Witt says that’s between 1.5 and 15 grams of oxycodone.

Heritage Pharmacy provides medical supplies to facilities across the state and country and has roots to Lancaster as far back as the 1920s. In 2005, they relocated to the larger Carroll facility.

Court documents indicate that the victim in this alleged crime, John, committed a crime himself to cover for his son, rather than reporting the theft.

“Defendant abused the trust of his family by stealing drugs from the family business and jeopardizing his family’s business and his father’s career,” according to Brett’s bond recommendation.

Documents also indicate that Brett has a drug addiction that may impact his ability to appear in court. His initial bond requirements stated that he is not permitted to enter Heritage Healthcare Services, Inc. or conduct any business for the company. Brett did make a request to be allowed limited contact with Heritage Healthcare Services, Inc. to continue work as a sales representative from home as well as to contact his father.

John was also advised as a part of his bond not to have contact with the co-defendant in this case, his son, nor to allow him to manage any part of the business. Witt said at a bond hearing earlier this month, Brett was permitted to do work for Heritage, but cannot enter the facility.

John had a pretrial hearing set for Monday morning with Judge David Trimmer. Brett had a bond hearing Sept. 12 with Judge Richard Berens. Online court records indicate that a subsequent hearing has not yet been set.

Representatives with Heritage Pharmacy could not be reached for comment. A receptionist at the company transferred the call to a voicemail that was not returned.