Surgery Tech Charged With Stealing Meds Previously Stole Syringes
DENVER (CBS4/AP) - A former surgery technician has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of stealing painkillers intended for patients at a Colorado hospital. It was revealed he had previously been fired from other hospitals for theft of syringes and drugs.
Rocky Allen, 28, entered his plea Friday. He's charged with tampering with a consumer product and obtaining a controlled substance by deceit.
Prosecutors say he took syringes filled with the painkiller fentanyl at Swedish Medical Center in Englewood and replaced them with some other substance. That substance hasn't been disclosed.
Swedish asked about 2,900 people who had been patients there to be tested for hepatitis and HIV. John C. Lincoln Medical Center in Phoenix, where Allen previously worked, also offered testing.
"It looks like he was lying about his resume, where he had been. We know he had been fired for the same thing at other facilities and it sounds like there was a similar incident from his time in the Navy," said attorney Evan Banker, who represents several potential victims connected to the Swedish Medical Center incident.
Allen's attorneys asked the judge to set bail for his release, but prosecutors asked that he be held without bail.
In court on Friday it was stated that Allen was fired from previous hospital jobs for theft of drugs and syringes. Those include Swedish Medical Center, John C. Lincoln Medical in Phoenix and Banner Thunderbird in Glendale, Ariz.
Food and Drug Administration agent Christy Berg testified on Friday that Allen was fired from the four hospitals for drug theft and is under investigation at another. She claimed he left those positions off his resume.
It was not revealed whether Swedish Medical Center conducted any pre-employment drug screening.
An investigation has been started concerning his conduct at Northwest Hospital in Seattle.
Prosecutors argued for Allen to be detained in custody until his trial but the judge disagreed.
CBS4 Legal Analyst Karen Steinhauser said the court had to consider several factors, "Are there conditions by which somebody could be released that are going to guarantee their appearance in court and going to protect the community."
Allen can be released on $25,000 bond to a halfway house, he must undergo drug treatment and cannot be employed in the medical field.
Allen also served in the U.S. Navy and as a Department of Defense contractor. A defense attorney said Allen served in Afghanistan and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder.
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