By Shawn McGrath
ANDERSON — A former Anderson Wal-Mart pharmacist and pharmacy technician have been charged with several felonies, including illegally dealing prescription drugs.
Madison County prosecutors charged former store pharmacist Mark E. Lawson, 53, of Atlanta, Ind., earlier this month with:
• Dealing in a Schedule IV controlled substance, a Class C felony.
• Obtaining a controlled substance by fraud or deceit, a Class D felony.
• Possession of a controlled substance, a Class D felony.
• Theft, a Class D felony.
Lawson turned himself in at the Madison County Jail on April 21, and posted 10 percent of his $10,000 bond the same day.
Lawson did not return a telephone message left at his home Monday night. His attorney, Jeff Lockwood of Anderson, declined comment.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed with the charges:
Detective Bret Busby, with the Madison County Drug Task Force, received a tip that Wal-Mart pharmacy technician Kathy J. Jones was trying to fraudulently obtain Carisoprodol, a muscle relaxant. Jones, 59, Anderson, told Busby that Lawson would phone orders to other pharmacies, claiming to transfer the non-existing prescriptions. Jones would then pick up the prescriptions and give Lawson some of the drugs, which also including Percocet, a pain medication.
Surveillance camera footage also showed Lawson stealing Hydrocodone, also a pain medicine, from a bottle inside the pharmacy at Wal-Mart, 2321 Charles St.
When questioned by Busby, Lawson reportedly admitted to his role in the scheme.
Lawson worked as a pharmacist at the store since September, and was terminated earlier this month. He will be arraigned on the charges in Madison Circuit Court at 8:30 a.m. Monday, May 12.
Prosecutors charged Jones with dealing in a Schedule II controlled substance, a Class B felony. She also faces three other counts, including obtaining a controlled substance by fraud or deceit, a Class D felony. She made an initial court appearance Monday.
A published listing for Jones could not be found, and she could not be reached for comment. She has since been released from jail on bond. Anderson attorney Bob Cowles will be her public defender, but he couldn’t be reached late Monday.
If convicted, a Class C felony carries a possible sentence of two to eight years, while a Class D felony is punishable six months to three years behind bars. A Class B felony has a sentencing range of eight to 20 years.
