It’s not a common occurrence, law enforcement says, but those who have access to prescription drugs while employed by pharmacies can end up taking advantage of the opportunity – and getting caught.

For at least the third time in the past two years, someone in the Bowling Green area has been arrested and accused of stealing prescription drugs from a pharmacy – the latest incident being in Bowling Green.

Bowling Green Police Department officers on Thursday arrested Mindy Ann Oliphant, 33, 676 North Harris Road, on four counts of theft by unlawful taking or disposition of a controlled substance under $10,000, according to Warren Circuit Court records and online jail records.

Police responded to Kroger on U.S. 31W By-Pass in regard to a theft of a controlled substance, according to the arrest citation. Police spoke with a loss prevention officer who said Oliphant, a pharmacy technician, had allegedly been stealing hydrocodone pills for the past few months.

Hyrdocodone is the No. 1 prescribed drug in Kentucky and in the United States, according to Van Ingram, executive director for the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy.

The loss prevention officer told police the pharmacy had multiple pill count shortages and suspected Oliphant. The loss prevention officer said the security cameras have caught Oliphant stealing hydrocodone pills four times, according to the citation.

Police said Oliphant admitted stealing multiple hydrocodone tablets from the pharmacy in order to self-medicate, the citation stated.

Oliphant couldn’t provide exact dates of the thefts, but she estimated she had stolen between 200 and 250 pill during a three- or four-month period, according to the citation. She was taken to Warren County Regional Jail and held on a $1,000 bond. She was released Friday after posting $200 in bail credit and $800 cash, according to circuit court records.

Oliphant waived a preliminary hearing, and her next court date has not been set.

In May 2012, Keenan Anthony Bower, a Western Kentucky University student, was indicted and arrested on multiple drug charges after being accused of stealing 3,661 units of medication, 2,211 of which were hydrocodone. The pills totaled $3,100 in retail value and $32,000 in street value. Bower, investigators said, told them he stole pills from Walgreens on U.S. 31-W By-Pass, where he worked, and sold the drugs on campus.

Bower pleaded guilty to first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, first offense, second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and theft by unlawful taking of property valued over $500 but less than $10,000. Other charges were dismissed and the defendant was ordered to begin substance abuse assessment, pay restitution and forfeit his vehicle. Court documents indicate the student’s record will be expunged if there are no probation violations.

In a case in Allen County, Jeffery Clay Stinson, 48, of Scottsville, is facing five counts of possession of hydrocodone with the intent to distribute and one count of conspiracy to possess hydrocodone with the intent to distribute. Stinson was arrested June 14 on charges he sold hydrocodone smuggled from Stovall’s Prescription Shop in Scottsville before the drugs were made available for purchase at the pharmacy. 

If convicted, Stinson faces a maximum prison sentence of 60 years. According to paperwork filed today in federal court, Stinson is scheduled for a court appearance at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 16 for a plea change hearing.

Two others, Lynn Denton, 46, and Katherine Rookstool, 35 – both of Scottsville – face charges in the Scottsville case. Denton was a Stovall’s employee during the time which federal investigators say the conspiracy to sell the drugs was carried out. Denton could face 30 years if convicted; Rookstool, 25. The cases against Rockstool and Denton are pending in federal court.

Ingram said incidents of thefts by pharmacy employees have been happening for a long time.

“It’s unfortunate, but we see these cases pop up all over the state … but it’s not rampant,” Ingram said.

Part of the problem with people in positions with access to prescription medication stealing drugs is where the pills end up, Ingram said. Children often get drugs from a friend of family member.

Hydrocodone is also commonly found in overdose toxicology reports, sometimes paired with alcohol, Ingram said.

“When not taken properly, it’s a deadly combination,” he said.

— Follow police and crime beat reporter Monica Spees on Twitter at twitter.com/BGDNcrime or visit bgdailynews.com.