A former Thief River Falls nurse charged with illegally obtaining prescription drugs pleaded guilty to the felony charge Friday, according to Assistant Pennington County attorney Kristin Hanson.
Sarah Sabol, 31, pleaded guilty Friday afternoon to one count of procuring narcotics using fraud.
Earlier this year, Sabol and fellow nurse Melissa Beier both were charged with obtaining prescription drugs by fraud, a fifth-degree felony, and also with a second felony charge of conspiracy, after police say the women pretended to be doctors in order to get the narcotics from pharmacies in Thief River Falls. Both nurses were fired in July.
As part of a plea agreement, the second felony charge of conspiracy likely will be dropped when Sabol is sentenced, Hanson said. Court officials said Sabol will be sentenced Dec. 29.
Beier already has pleaded guilty to the charge of procuring narcotics illegally and is scheduled to be sentenced Monday. The second charge of conspiracy against Beier is expected to be dropped at that time.
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The two nurses don't have prior criminal offenses, Hanson said.
That will come into play during sentencing, but Hanson said she didn't know what the potential sentence could be.
"We have sentencing guidelines, so that could mean one year and one day in prison stayed," Hanson said. "It could also mean local jail time, community service, treatment, fines. It's all up to the judge."
