RANGELEY – A Rangeley pharmacist’s license suspension will continue another 30 days until a state hearing Aug. 9.
Joey McLafferty, 71, of Rangeley was scheduled to appear for a hearing before the Maine Board of Pharmacy on Tuesday, July 12, to determine whether grounds exist to discipline him.
McLafferty, who owns Riddle’s Pharmacy and is its only pharmacist, is accused of violating several state and federal pharmacy rules. On June 14, the state had suspended his license for 30 days.
The state launched an investigation after Rangeley police received information about the possibility of drugs being stolen from there and sold on the street. Three Rangeley teenagers face charges of using, stealing and selling prescription drugs in the store. They’re scheduled to appear Wednesday, July 13, in Juvenile Court in Farmington.
A senior state pharmacy inspector did a 16-day audit and discovered that 1,300 pills were missing, officials said earlier. The inspector also showed the state pharmacy board a short video of McLafferty drinking beer during a lunch break. He told the board he followed McLafferty to a restaurant and watched him drink two beers before he returned to the pharmacy to fill prescriptions.
A state hearing officer granted a request Thursday from McLafferty’s attorney to continue the hearing until Aug. 9, said Anne L. Head, director of the state Office of Licensing and Registration.
Riddle’s Pharmacy has been able to open two days a week with substitute pharmacist John Bartash Jr. of Rumford. However, last week the pharmacy opened four days because pharmacist Robert Nutting of Oakland also came in to help, Riddle’s pharmacy technician Billie Linnell said Friday.
The pharmacy will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, July 12 to 14, Linnell said. She said she doesn’t know how many days the pharmacy will be open next week.
The nearest pharmacies to Rangeley are 43 miles away in Farmington.
Residents of Rangeley have launched a petition drive in support of McLafferty with more than 150 people signed them, according to the organizers.
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