KEYSER — A Swanton woman faces felony prescription fraud charges after she was arrested Monday afternoon allegedly trying to pass a fake prescription at a Keyser pharmacy.
Heather N. Winegardner, 38, was originally charged with seven counts of prescription forgery following the 3:38 p.m. incident. However, during an appearance at Magistrate Court, those seven charges were dropped in favor of one felony count of obtaining a controlled substance by mis-representation. Officials said the charge carries a possible penalty of one to four years in jail and a $30,000 fine.
According to Keyser City Police, a local pharmacy became suspicious about a prescription for oxycontin
that had been dropped off at the business. Pharmacy staff contacted police, who advised them to call back when the person returned for the prescription.
The pharmacy called back an hour later, and Winegardner was arrested as she waited at the store.
Police said Winegardner had worked at a Garrett County doctor's office and attempted to pass the prescription under that doctor's name. However, pharmacy staff became suspicious and contacted the doctor's office, which advised that the doctor did not issue the script, and that Winegardner was no longer employed at the office.
Known as “Hillbilly Heroin,” oxycontin is a powerful opiate pain medication that is also extremely addictive. According to the guest editorial in today's News-Tribune — see page 3 — a special legislative committee in the West Virginia State Senate has drafted 11 bills in an effort to address the scourge, which has seen overdose deaths in West Virginia increase 20-fold over the past decade.
Police said Winegardner was released on $2,800 bail.
Keyser, W.Va. —
