Albany County official arrested for illegal prescription drug possession - WRGB

Updated: Tuesday, September 3 2013, 10:22 PM EDT

ALBANY -- Albany County Deputy County
Executive, Christine Quinn, was arrested at her home Tuesday morning for
attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance and a misdemeanor drug
charge.

 

Court
records show Quinn was prescribed Ritalin earlier this year. She was then given
an 84-day supply on February 5. Quinn is accused of returning to the same nurse
practitioner on March 5 and claimed the pharmacy would only give her a 30-day
supply. The nurse practitioner then issued her a second prescription for 270
pills.

Albany County District Attorney David Soares said Quinn is the first prescription-holder
to be referred to his office and charged under a new public health law passed
last year. Traditionally the state tracks the amount of controlled substances
prescribed by doctors, but it is now also tracking patients.

"This is the first time they're making referrals based on use. As
you know 'seeking behavior' is something that has risen over the past year and
they passed this law to address a prescription abuse problem where people who
are seeking prescriptions are going to more than one doctor," said Soares.

Quinn pleaded not guilty in Colonie Town Court Tuesday afternoon and was
released under the supervision of the Albany County Probation Department.

Quinn
has been an employee of Albany County for more than 10 years. She has
previously worked as Director of Employee Relations and County Attorney, a
position that is not within Soares' office. County Executive Dan McCoy
appointed her to her current role in July 2012.

Three months ago, McCoy and Soares helped launch a public awareness
campaign about the dangers of prescription drugs.

"There was nothing that I caught on to. She's done her job with
due diligence and it's a sad time to think about her and her family now," said
McCoy during a news conference after Quinn's arraignment.

Quinn has been suspended
from her job with pay. The 2013 county budget showed she makes $106,869
annually. McCoy appointed Brad Fisher, Albany County's Director of Operations,
as Acting Deputy County Executive.

Soares' office will prosecute the two charges against Quinn even though she is
a county employee. Soares indicated Quinn may be eligible for a diversion
program because this is her first offence.

During a news conference Soares said Quinn is "very near and dear to all of us
here," but later said the two work in separate offices and there is no need to
recuse the staff.

"What
we do here is engaging and reengaging in dispassionate review of the facts and
gathering of evidence," said Soares. "There's one standard of law that is
applicable to every person in this county."

Albany County official arrested for illegal prescription drug possession