An Independence County woman is facing several felony counts relating to the alleged theft of controlled substances from a local medical facility where she was employed.
According to circuit court information, facility surveillance video shows Nadine J. Hightower, 35, entering a medical dispenser nine times on May 30 without “…proper medical need for the medications with none recorded on patient charts through theft between 3:09 p.m. and 9:42 p.m.”
The information says Hightower is on video “…showing the medications being removed and concealed within her hand, shoes, and pockets.”
She is charged with nine counts of felony breaking or entering and nine counts of obtaining controlled substances through fraudulent practices.
In all, the court information says there were 197 transactions of medications taken between February and June of 2023 without a proper patient need or recorded on a patient’s medical chart.
Fifty-one of the 197 transactions were recorded on surveillance video for the medical facility and were reviewed by the facility staff.
Hightower’s bond was set at $50,000.
