A Lancaster County nurse is charged with taking prescription medications earlier this year while working at a Christiana assisted-living center.
Kayla M. Buckwalter, 24, was charged Tuesday with 31 charges regarding thefts between April and May at Harrison House, 41 Newport Avenue.
Buckwalter, of Christiana, was arrested and arraigned Tuesday afternoon when bail was set at $50,000 unsecured, meaning she is free until her next court date.
Buckwalter resigned her position after a May 21 meeting with police and human-resources employees.
She is charged with using another employee’s login information to access a locked medication area on several occasions. She took quantities of multiple medications, including Oxycodone and fentanyl, both commonly-abused opioids.
Surveillance video showed Buckwalter accessed the medication area at least seven times and also shredded documents related to the dispensed substances.
Police believe Buckwalter took the medications for personal use.
She was taken into custody Tuesday, without incident, at a friend’s home.
In all, she is charged with counts of fraudulent acquisition of controlled substances, unlawful use of a computer, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and tampering with records.
Christiana police Chief Richard Finfrock filed charges.
Buckwalter is presumed innocent.
MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright