FARMINGTON – A 16-year-old Rangeley teenager denied charges of selling, stealing and furnishing prescription drugs during her arraignment Wednesday in Juvenile Court. She was the second of three teenage girls to deny the charges in a drug case linked to drugs taken from a Rangeley pharmacy.
Another Rangeley girl, a 15-year-old who was held in a Charleston juvenile detention center since June 16, after she was accused of assaulting a police officer and terrorizing her family, also appeared Wednesday in Juvenile Court and was released under house arrest to her parents. She had previously denied all charges including those connected to the drug case.
All three girls have been charged with aggravated trafficking in drugs, aggravated unlawful furnishing of drugs and stealing drugs.
The third co-defendant, another 16-year-old Rangeley girl, had her case continued to August.
The girls are accused of stealing prescription medication from Riddle’s Pharmacy in Rangeley and using the medication, selling it or giving it away. A 16-day audit conducted by the state showed there were 1,300 pills missing.
In June, the state suspended the license of the pharmacist and owner of the store, Joey McLafferty, for violating state and federal pharmacy rules.
The 15-year-old girl, represented by Margot Joly, sat beside her parents in the courtroom. The girl agreed to abide by the rules recommended by the state prosecutor, Andrew Robinson, and juvenile caseworker, Joan Dawson, and her parent’s rules if released into her parent’s custody.
Judge John McElwee ordered her to be released under house arrest, be with one of her parents at all times or an adult they approve of, take any prescribed medication, have no contact with co-defendants or witnesses, submit to random drug testing and cooperate with the Juvenile Detention Alternative Program, if she’s found eligible for the program.
Robinson said the good news in the case is that she has two parents who love her very much and care for her, which puts her miles ahead of some other juveniles who appear to court.
The case was continued to Aug. 10.
The 16-year-old, who appeared separately from the 15-year-old, sat beside her attorney, Kevin Joyce, and her mother. Joyce entered a denial for the teen on all three charges.
Her case was also continued to Aug. 10 and the judge asked her not to have contact with the 15-year-old. She remained released to her mother’s custody.
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