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A former pharmacist in Gillett, whose addiction led to the theft of prescription drugs from her store, has been granted two years probation.
Angela M. Lane’s crime was in some ways comparable to first-offense drunk driving, said Judge Michael Judge, with making a bad choice.
Nearly $10,000 of medication was found missing from the HSHS St. Clare Pharmacy between Oct. 4, 2014, and Jan. 25, 2017, according to a criminal complaint.
Lane, 39, was accused of stealing about 26,400 hydrocodone-acetaminophen tablets, 105 bottles of hydrocodone-acetaminophen elixir and 4,300 amphetamine salts combo tablets of 10, 20 or 30 mg. The drugs are sold under several names, most commonly Vicodin and Adderall, respectively.
Lane was charged Dec. 21 with obtaining a controlled substance by fraud, theft of $5,000 to $10,000, and misdemeanor theft. She pleaded no contest to the first charge, punishable by up to six years in prison, with the other two charges dismissed as part of a plea agreement.
Though it seemed to be a lot of medication, District Attorney Edward Burke said, a Drug Enforcement Administration agent who reviewed the case found the amount “was pretty consistent” with someone addicted to those controlled substances.
“She just got wrapped up in what a lot of other people get wrapped up in, (and) just became addicted to opiate-based products,” Burke said.
Lane knew she had a problem, but was going through some issues during that time with her marriage ending and was relying on stimulants to lose weight, he said.
“She basically threw away an education, threw away a promising career,” said Burke, who recommended two years probation and $5,000 in fines and court costs.
Defense attorney Robert Ruth said Lane still has $76,000 in student loans outstanding, which are “all for naught.” In her new job, she said she only makes a fourth of what she used to.
Probation is justified, Ruth said, because Lane admitted her actions right away, got treatment and employment, and offered to pay restitution.
Lane, previously of Sobieski and now of Green Bay, agreed to a voluntary suspension of her pharmacy license. The state Pharmacy Examining Board’s final action was not to be decided until after the criminal case was completed.
Lane became addicted through a legitimate prescription, but now has 18 months of negative drug screenings and done “excellent” in recovery, Ruth said.
Lane apologized to her family and friends, adding she wants to be there for her children and “continue in sobriety.”
Citing Lane’s “stellar” employment history, no criminal record and no hint of other issues, Judge called what happened “an anomaly.”
Still, Judge said, he must hold her to a high standard because of her profession.
Judge withheld sentence and ordered Lane to serve 100 hours of community service in lieu of the $5,000 fine and court costs.
Lane was assessed $288 court costs and $250 DNA surcharge, and ordered to maintain absolute sobriety and complete any treatment directed by the DOC and any follow-up.