Police Arrest Pair for Felony Forgery Charges
The Delaware State Police recently announced the arrest of two 30-year-old suspects, one from Wilmington, DE, and the other from Newark, DE. The suspects were arrested on multiple felony charges stemming from a burglary that occurred at a doctor’s office in Wilmington.
On January 9, 2025, at about 8:54 a.m., troopers responded to Family Practice, a doctor’s office located in Wilmington for a report of a burglary that occurred overnight. The investigation revealed that an unknown male suspect forcibly entered the building and removed 2 lock boxes containing an undisclosed amount of money and prescription pads. The suspect fled in a vehicle with the stolen property.
Ultimately, police were able to develop a suspect for the burglary. On January 13, 2025 at around 12:00 p.m. detectives were notified by the doctor’s office that the suspect attempted to use forged prescriptions to be filled at a Walgreens Pharmacy on Kirkwood. Detectives responded to the pharmacy where they caught the suspect who was there with another male. Both men were taken into custody without incident. During a search of the second suspect, detectives found a forged prescription, and 10 clear baggies containing a white powdery substance consistent with heroin. The men were charged with multiple crimes including:
- Burglary 3rd Degree (Felony)
- Theft of Blank Prescription Pad (Felony) – 2 counts
- Forgery 2nd Degree (Felony) – 5 counts
- Conspiracy 2nd Degree (Felony)
- Theft Under $1,500
- Criminal Mischief $1,000 but less than $5,000
Theft or Possession of a Prescription Pad
11 DE Code § 841C defines the crime of Possession or Theft of a Prescription Pad.
(a) A person in possession of a blank prescription form or pad who is not a practitioner as defined in this section shall be guilty of a class G felony. “Possession” in addition to its ordinary meaning, includes location on or about the defendant’s person, premises, belongings, vehicle or otherwise within the defendant’s reasonable control.
(b) A person is guilty of theft of a blank prescription form or pad when the person is not a practitioner as defined in this section and takes, exercises control over, obtains or receives, produces or reproduces any facsimile or counterfeit version of, or transfers, uses, gives, or sells any copies, facsimiles or counterfeit versions, a prescription form or pad of a practitioner with the intent to deprive the practitioner of the use thereof or to facilitate the commission of drug diversion.
(1) A “practitioner” means:
- A physician, dentist, veterinarian, scientific investigator or other person licensed, registered or otherwise permitted to distribute, dispense, conduct research with respect to or to administer a controlled or noncontrolled substance in the course of professional practice or research in this State.
- A pharmacy, hospital or other institution licensed, registered, or otherwise permitted to distribute, dispense, conduct research with respect to or to administer a controlled or noncontrolled substance in the course of professional practice or research in this State.
(2) Theft of a blank prescription form or pad is a class F felony.
In this case, the defendant is charged with burglarizing a doctor’s office to steal a prescription pad. He then used the pad in an attempt to fill prescriptions at a pharmacy. So, he’ll be charged with both Burglary and Theft of a Prescription Pad.
Talk to a Wilmington, DE Criminal Defense Lawyer
Michael W. Modica represents the interests of those facing criminal charges in Wilmington, DE. Call our Wilmington criminal defense lawyers today to schedule an appointment and we can begin preparing your defense right away.
Source:
dsp.delaware.gov/2025/01/15/state-police-arrest-pair-for-felony-forgery-charges-following-burglary-at-doctors-office-in-wilmington/
