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Nurse sorry for fake prescriptions
Peterson fined and given up to 10 years probation
Published Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Former Owatonna Clinic nurse Sue Ann Peterson on Monday publicly apologized to her family, friends and community in Freeborn County District Court for reportedly forging more than 200 prescription drug medications last year to feed what she described as an “insane” addiction.
During her sentencing for the crimes, Peterson, 54, said she takes full responsibility for her actions and noted she is in her seventh month of chemical-dependency recovery.
“I’m not going to shut the door on my past,” she said.
Peterson said she speaks to women going through chemical-dependency treatment at Fountain Lake Treatment Center, intends to pursue a degree as an addiction counselor and wants to educate the public on the disease of addiction.
Freeborn County District Court Judge Steve Schwab said Peterson was found guilty of one charge of aggravated forgery by means of a plea agreement by her lawyer and the Freeborn County Attorney’s Office.
Sue Ann Peterson
The intent of the plea was to unite all of the instances of fraud under one charge, or what can be labeled as one continuing behavior, Freeborn County Assistant Attorney David Walker said at the time.
Schwab sentenced Peterson to a stay of imposition with no executed jail time, which is what was recommended by both the prosecution and the defense.
According to court documents, Peterson forged signatures on 267 prescriptions for her or her husband from Jan. 8 through Dec. 10, 2008. The prescriptions totaled 12,003 pills or tablets.
Those prescriptions were found on records from Walgreens, Snyder Drug, Curt’s Pharmacy, Shopko, Hy-Vee, Sterling Drug and Wal-Mart in Albert Lea, documents state. They included pills such as Hydrocodone-APAP, Vicodin, Tramadol HCL, Methotrexate, Folic Acid, Keflex, Ultram, Prednisone, Azithromycin and others.
Schwab said Peterson will be on probation for up to 10 years for the crime and is fined $1,206, which includes court costs.
She must obey local, state and national laws, report to her agent as directed, abstain from alcohol or mood-altering chemicals, not use or own a firearm, and get permission before leaving the state, among other conditions.
Schwab said Peterson is required to complete 100 hours of community service within six months, and she must notify the state nursing certification board of her felony conviction. She must disclose all of her prescriptions and medical appointments to her agent.
During the court proceedings Monday, Peterson’s lawyer, Daryl Bail, said his client realizes her addiction was out of control. The intervention through law enforcement is something that actually saved her life, the lawyer said.
Bail said Peterson has been on suspension as a nurse since her arrest last December, and it is expected that her license is going to be permanently revoked.
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Comments
Posted by catty4 (anonymous) on July 7, 2009 at 3:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope Sue will get the help she needs. I don't understand why she is not in jail.
Posted by PMTrib (anonymous) on July 7, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
catty4, not sure I understand why she is not in jail statement? You must not have read the article - 54 yrs. old, nurse addicted to pain medication, no executed jail time, which is what was "recommended by both the prosecution and the defense". Sounds like an old lady, that didn't have a record and harmed just herself? That's the kind of person you want to spend your tax dollars on and send to jail?
Posted by buddy (anonymous) on July 7, 2009 at 9:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
PMTrib, way to say it.Right on. For a minute there I seen that there is someone who has compassion in Albert Lea.I'm sorry about letting you in on this venue but ouch 54 is not old. Don,t get me wrong, what you said is all right. Thanks for that. I don't think people on the whole really understand addiction.
Posted by dede (anonymous) on July 8, 2009 at 8:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
People aren't addicted to antibiotics, folic acid and Prednisone.
Posted by hsmom (anonymous) on July 8, 2009 at 9:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think she's only sorry because she was caught.
Posted by mar (anonymous) on July 8, 2009 at 10:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Everybody is sorry when they get caught at something, even the little white lie. Her addiction to pain killers is a problem, and getting caught stopped her, or else "the addiction would continue" why bother saying "people aren't addicted to antibiotics" So you cleverly picked those drugs out to make your statement, the other drugs listed are pain killers, she probably picked up a few antibiotics illegally throughout the year when they were sick. that seems like a pretty big possibility if you are already writing prescriptions for yourself. It looks like she is paying for her crime, she also ruined her career, but she is going to step up and help others in another way. Famous quote " All of us have bad luck and good luck. The man who persists through the bad luck -- who keeps right on going -- is the man who is there when the good luck comes -- and is ready to receive it." I wish her all the luck, stay alive, and thank you for wanting the help and wanting to help others.
Posted by BadBoy (anonymous) on July 8, 2009 at 12:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Who was paying for the prescriptions? If her insurance company was she is guilty of insurance fraud. Assuming a minimum of $1 / pill she swindled them out of over $12,000. If a black man in Minneapolis would have stolen $12,000 to feed his crack cocaine addiction he would be in Stillwater.
Posted by dede (anonymous) on July 8, 2009 at 12:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am making a statement, I have a right to my opinion as do you mar, tell your sob story to the alcoholic or the person who's addicted to pot, what kind of jail sentence would they get for breaking the law? Tell it to the alcoholic that "accidentally" kills someone while under the influence. You do the crime you should do the time, people make choices, usually those choices change when they get caught or shall we say hit the bottom, at that point there's no where to go but up. I hope she turns her life around, never met the woman.
Posted by mar (anonymous) on July 9, 2009 at 9:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I never met her either, I thought she was paying for the crime, although I would have had no objection to some jail time for her. Good point about insurance fraud, I wonder if insurance companies get notified in cases like this so that they can press charges? She should have to pay restitution $12,000 and whatever else the charges call for. That should be called to the attention of the prosecuting attorney. Are you going to check that out?
Posted by BabyGotBack (anonymous) on July 9, 2009 at 9:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Right on BadBoy! You are so correct on that. Minorities often get harsher sentences than whites who commit the same crime. If she was black, I'll be there would have been jail time.
Posted by knockerknock (anonymous) on July 10, 2009 at 3:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is absolutely unbelievable! Why is she treated with a "slap on the hand" for this heinous crime?
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