Waterboro Nurse Convicted Of Felony Drug Stealing From The York County Jail

July 15, 2005

Attorney General Steven Rowe announced that a York County jury yesterday convicted registered nurse Jill Cote, 32, of Waterboro, of acquiring drugs by deception (class C). On July 28, 2003, while Jill Cote was working as a registered nurse at the York County Jail in Alfred, Cote diverted 60 Demerol pills by placing an order to the pharmacy for an inmate who was allergic to the medication. She was the last person in possession of the medications, which were never administered to the inmate or any other inmate at the jail. Cote's crime was uncovered when the pharmacist requested a signed prescription order from the nurse practitioner who served the jail. The nurse practitioner indicated that she had not prescribed the medication and would not authorize it. Cote did not have permission or authority at any time to order the prescription or prescribe a narcotic.

Assistant Attorney General Maria Pizzimbono, who prosecuted the case, said, "This case should serve as a wake-up call for drug-diverting health professionals. The pharmacy system cannot be fooled for long, and the Maine legal system will come down hard on those who try to fool it. A felony conviction is a major blow to any health professional's career." Cote's sentencing is scheduled for August 5, 2005, in York County Superior Court.

The case was investigated by the York County Sheriff's Department and Attorney General's Office Detective Gerard "Red" Therrien.

---

MARIA PIZZIMBONO, ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL, 207-626-8886