I found this post in a newsgroup today and am really happy for this guy no charges were pressed although this seems a rare exeption these days ;) I really wonder what the district attorney will do, with the crackdowns on abuse of this kind of medications it would seem pretty weird if they let this one go… If anyone has an update or comment on this case please post your reply.

- A senior pharmacist accused of stealing 1,100 pills from his workplace to fuel a suspected drug addiction won’t be fired, according to the hospital that employs him, but he may face legal charges.

The 36-year-old Fond du Lac man allegedly took 880 Vicodin painkiller pills and 220 Ambien sleeping pills from the St. Agnes Hospital between July and December, according to a Fond du Lac police report. The pills have an estimated wholesale cost of $2,000.

The hospital and police have been investigating since a pharmacy employee reported the missing pills to police Dec. 17, the report said. Agnesian HealthCare reported Thursday it would not prosecute the man, although the district attorney could still seek charges.

The hospital chose not to press charges because it tries “to help employees who are coping with personal issues get the help they need,” hospital spokeswoman Ann Brantmeier said.

According to the police report, the man admitted he started stealing the pills about two years ago to help him cope with pain from surgery. He said he became addicted and stole about four pills a day, the report said.

The man denied selling or distributing any of the drugs, the report said.

Brantmeier said the man is still employed there and is receiving assistance for his addiction.