Woman gets probation for stealing meds from animal hospital - East Idaho News
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Woman gets probation for stealing meds from animal hospital

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IDAHO FALLS — An Idaho Falls woman will be on probation after stealing medication from the veterinary clinic where she worked.

Lauren B. Tasner was sentenced to two years of probation on May 27 after pleading guilty to misdemeanor petit theft and possession of a controlled substance. Magistrate Judge Kent Gauchay opted to suspend two years in jail that could be served if Tasner violates the terms of probation.

Court records show prosecutors initially charged Tasner with felony possession of a controlled substance and misdemeanor charges of possession of a controlled substance and petit theft. However, as part of a plea agreement, a felony charge of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute was dismissed. She also agreed to pay all restitution.

In October, Northgate Animal Hospital called the Idaho Falls Police Department after noticing a controlled substance called Dorolex, a synthetic pain killer, missing from its inventory. Tasner worked as a veterinary tech at the animal hospital and she signed off on the inventory of drugs the day before.

RELATED | Police say Idaho Falls vet tech confessed to stealing medication

At first, Tasner denied taking the medications saying she must have misplaced them. When pushed further, Tasner said she took the Dorolex but would not say where it went, wanting to know how much trouble she was in.

Eventually, officers discovered a makeup bag outside the office with “my little bag of tricks” stamped on it. In the bag, police found a stolen vial of Dorolex, three vials of diazepam, a sterile water vial, syringes and a tourniquet.

Officers continued to investigate, sending the vials to the Idaho State Police lab and allowing the vet office to see how much medication was missing. In November, police were called by an accountant for the office who said $18,200 worth of medications were missing from Northgate Animal Hospital. Tasner was only charged for the medications found in her makeup bag.

Tasner was not arrested but she was issued a summons to appear in court.

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