Lance Forbes, from his April arrest.

A clinical assistant professor for the University of Iowa College of Dentistry was arrested this week on suspicion of writing false prescriptions for five fabricated patients for more than 1,200 tablets of Hydrocodone.

Lance P. Forbes, who began his general practice residency with the UI in 1998, faces five felony charges of controlled substance violation after authorities discovered he has been writing the fake prescriptions since June 2011, according to several criminal complaints.

Investigators believe Forbes, on multiple occasions, called in prescriptions for hydrocodone to Hy-Vee pharmacies and other pharmacies in the area under the names of people who had been his patients in the past, according to the complaints.

Forbes is accused of calling in the prescriptions and having his girlfriend at the time, Brenda Wallace, pick them up, police reported.

In speaking with the people whose names Forbes listed as patients on the prescriptions, they confirmed they were not his patients. One person said he was friends with Forbes, but not a current patient, according to the police report.

The total number of pills Forbes is accused of obtaining through false prescriptions is 1,234, according to the complaints.

Forbes was released from the Johnson County Jail Wednesday morning.

Forbes in April was among 17 people arrested in connection with a prostitution sting in Coralville that involved more than 20 agencies and 30 officers.

Forbes was arrested on suspicion of paying an undercover police officer $150 for oral sex, according to a criminal complaint. He pleaded guilty to a prostitution charge in July and was sentenced to one year on probation and 50 hours of community service.

It’s not immediately known how his new arrest will affect that sentence.

Forbes still is listed as an employee in the UI directory. According to the UI, he provides clinical teaching to predoctoral and postdoctoral students.