PLATTSBURGH -- Already facing professional-misconduct allegations in Vermont, a Plattsburgh pharmacist is now accused of breaking into a local residence to steal prescription medications.
After having his license suspended late last year, Jeffrey Forkey, 30, was later accused failing to comply with the terms of his license-reinstatement agreement, including participating in drug counseling and drug-screening tests.
According to Vermont court records, Forkey's license was suspended for five months in late 2006 after he admitted to stealing and writing false prescriptions for painkillers.
Officials said the recent complaint, lodged in September, could land Forkey an additional charge of professional misconduct and be grounds for further disciplinary action.
As the noncompliance complaint continues to work its way through the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation, Forkey was arrested earlier this month for allegedly breaking into a neighbor's home and stealing two vials of painkillers.
According to Plattsburgh City Court records, Forkey, who graduated from Albany College of Pharmacy in 2003, allegedly walked into a McMartin Street home and scoured the residence until he found bottles of Darvocet and Ketorolac in a bedroom dresser drawer.
The owner, who says she's known Forkey and his family for years, told Plattsburgh City Police she was hesitant to contact authorities about the burglary but said Forkey needs help for an addiction to prescription medications.
She said she noticed medication missing from her home on one other occasion but didn't notify police until the second theft.
In her voluntary statement, she said she immediately suspected Forkey in the second burglary and had hid the painkillers, knowing he was back in town, but didn't think he would look for the pills in her clothes drawer.
She repeatedly told authorities she didn't want to get him in trouble, but feared he may become more aggressive and hoped her complaint could help get him treatment.
Hours after the Nov. 18 complaint was lodged, Forkey was arrested. He told police he was ashamed about the break-in and admitted he needed help for his addiction.
He said he had walked into the residence through an unlocked side door and gone through the home until he found the painkillers hidden in the master bedroom.
He told police that once he found the prescriptions, he returned to his nearby apartment and consumed all of the pills, which he estimated were about 10 in total.
"I do have an addiction problem, and I need help," Forkey said in his voluntary statement to police, adding that he was cooperating in hopes of getting treatment for his problem.
Forkey, who was granted a Perrigo Pharmaceutical Co. award for his outstanding performance in college, is now facing a felony charge of second-degree burglary and a lesser charge of petit larceny in connection with the Nov. 17 theft.
He was still being held at the Clinton County Jail Tuesday afternoon for not posting bail and is expected to return to City Court with attorney Michael Hartnett later this week.
avanvalkenburg@pressrepublican.com
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Local pharmacist admits theft for addiction
Broke into home to steal pills
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