Karen Feldner, age 56, of Honesdale, was arrested and arraigned today on charges of theft of Fentanyl, a felony and related charges. According to Wayne County District Attorney Janine Edwards,  bail was set at $75,000 unsecured by Magistrate Linus Myers.  Central court is scheduled in this matter for March 8, 2017 at 9:00 am at the Wayne County Courthouse.  

In October of 2016, a report was made of theft of a large quantity of fentanyl vials from Mountain Laurel Surgery Center, Honesdale, Pennsylvania.  Fentanyl is a schedule II controlled substance used in medical procedures for anesthesia and also used illegally since it is a highly addictive, potent pain medication.  The DEA was notified and an investigation followed by the DEA and the Wayne County District Attorney’s Office.  In the complaint filed today, it is alleged that Feldner stole Fentanyl from the surgical office as an employee, altered and tampered with vials of Fentanyl and replaced them with another substance, altered documents and forged signatures at the surgical center, obtained Fentanyl through misrepresentation and deception by claiming to have authority from her employer to obtain it when she did not and was in possession of fentanyl.  

Janine Edwards stated “Fentanyl is not just another opioid.  It is highly addictive and potentially lethal.  I am proud of the work done on this case by Wayne County DA Chief Detective Peter Hower and the DEA to ensure not only that criminal charges were filed but also having a concern for the potential safety of others.  We are in dangerous times with the drug epidemic gripping our county.  This particular crime not only fed the appetite of an addict but risked the lives of patients.  It was selfish and reckless and must be prosecuted vigilantly.”

The filing of criminal charges in not evidence of guilt but simply a description of the charge made by the Commonwealth against a defendant.  A charged Defendant is presumed innocent until a jury returns a unanimous finding that the Commonwealth has proven the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt or until the defendant enters a guilty plea to the charges.