Former Downtown Drug employee receives deferred judgment for stealing drugs

A former Downtown Drug employee who stole 18,000 hydrocodone pills over two years, which led to the pharmacy's owner losing his license, received a deferred judgment and probation Thursday in Linn County District Court.

Charles A. Long, 48, of Cedar Rapids, made an Alford plea to second-degree theft. He is accused of unlawfully obtaining hydrocodone, a controlled substance, by fraud or deceit while an employee at Downtown Drug in Cedar Rapids.

Sixth Judicial District Senior Judge Thomas Koehler gave Long a deferred judgment with three years' probation, which was part of the plea agreement. Long also must pay restitution to Downtown Drug owner Chris Tuetken. The amount hasn't been determined at this time.

According to an Iowa Board of Pharmacy order filed last year, Tuetken discovered Long was ordering large amounts of hydrocodone from a wholesaler, but the orders never were entered into the pharmacy's inventory. Long had access to the system, but ordering controlled substances wasn't part of his duties.

The unauthorized hydrocodone orders were found when invoices were reconciled for the pharmacy, according to the order filed by the pharmacy board. Numerous orders for 500-count bottles of hydrocodone tablets this year and last were larger than the pharmacy typically would order given its volume of business.

The board ordered Tuetken to sell his drugstores as a result of controlled substances being diverted without his knowledge. Tuetken's license was suspended for a year, and he will be required to pay a $10,000 civil penalty, according to the order.