ROCKLAND, Maine — A 61-year-old Cushing woman received a suspended jail term Thursday after admitting to stealing pain medication from a neighbor who had gone to a bereavement support group meeting.
Rebecca L. Hinsey pleaded guilty in Knox County Unified Court to a felony count of stealing drugs. A felony count of burglary was dismissed in exchange for a plea to a lesser count of criminal trespass.
The offense occurred in September 2014 in Cushing.
According to documents filed in court, an out-of-state friend of the victim was at the house when the victim went to a hospice bereavement support group. The friend said a woman walked in the house, not noticing her, and went to a drawer, pulled out a medicine bottle, poured some pills into her hand and started to leave.
The woman who came in the house later was identified as Hinsey.
Hinsey then saw the woman, introduced herself and left, according to statements filed in court.
The victim told police that she had suspected someone had stolen her pain medication at an earlier time because she had noticed she was missing a number of pills.
Justice William Stokes accepted a sentence agreement reached between the district attorney’s office and defense attorney James Strong in which Hinsey was sentenced to two years in jail, all suspended. Hinsey was also placed on probation for two years.