Sentence suspended for woman in prescription forgery case

Jun 20, 2010 — The Hawk Eye

John Mangalonzo

Jun. 20, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- The difference between how Kathy Dawn Conard looked when she was booked into jail and her appearance in court Monday was stunning, and the judge noticed.

Conard's judgment on two counts of prescription forgery was deferred, and she was placed on probation for five years. Her attorney, James Beres, said Conard had no criminal record to speak of.

Prosecutor Amy Beavers, citing a plea agreement, did not make any penalty recommendation, but asked District Court Judge Michael Schilling to order Conard to undergo a substance abuse treatment.

Schilling, who gave the woman lengthy advice on the dangers of drug abuse, be it illegal substances or prescription medication, also ordered Conard to complete 80 hours of community service.

Conard did not address the court, but she showed relief she did not get what could have been two 10-year prison terms -- the maximum penalty for each count.

The 24-year-old woman's downward spiral started as she was recovering from an undisclosed injury. Soon, she was addicted to prescription pain medication.

Authorities said Conard, the day after last Christmas, posed as a nurse for a local doctor and called in a prescription for 40 pills of Hydrocodone at Walgreens (NYSE:WAG) , 201 S. Central Ave., to be picked up he next day.

In another case in October, Southeast Iowa Narcotics Task Force agents were called to Kmart, 3200 Agency St., shortly after an employee suspected a woman, later identified as Conard, picked up a prescription for Hydrocodone written for another person. The employee reportedly told authorities the doctor who supposedly called for the prescriptions said he did not prescribe the medication.

Conard allegedly told authorities the pills were for her because she was addicted to Hydrocodone. She said she bought the pills on eight separate instances. Conard admitted to calling the pharmacy and posed as a nurse seeking a prescription refill for her neighbor.

Newstex ID: KRTB-1064-46251024