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It appears a nurse accused of stealing drugs from a Coolville nursing home will receive intervention in lieu of conviction.
Carrie Eckenroad, 42, Nelsonville, pleaded guilty in Athens County Common Court to four counts of theft of drugs, four counts of forgery, five counts of illegal processing of drug documents and two counts each of tampering with evidence and tampering with drugs. There was a plea agreement in which Eckenroad agreed to plead guilty in exchange for intervention.
Judge Patrick Lang found Eckenroad eligible for intervention in lieu of conviction if there is a favorable probation department report. Lang found that drug or alcohol use was a factor leading to the offenses.
“It’s her addiction that rendered her eligible,” said County Assistant Prosecutor Meg Saunders. “She is required to successfully complete treatment, report to the Adult Parole Authority as ordered, amongst other conditions.”
The case will be dismissed if Eckenroad does those things and successfully completes intervention in lieu of conviction, Saunders said.
The 17-count indictment was issued Dec. 4 after the case was presented to an Athens County grand jury by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, Saunders has said previously. The Health Care Fraud Section of the attorney general’s office conducted the investigation.
Eckenroad had worked at Arcadia Valley Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation.