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Woman who stole 800 pill from pharmacy avoids jail time

JANELLE PATTERSON The Marietta Times Kaitlin Lott, right, stands with her attorney Shawna Landaker for sentencing before Washington County Common Pleas Judge Mark Kerenyi Friday.

A Vienna woman caught stealing more than 800 Hydrocodone pills from a Marietta pharmacy last year avoided imprisonment Friday.

Washington County Common Pleas Judge Mark Kerenyi sentenced Kaitlin Lott, 28, of 902 27th St., to two years of community control with the contingency that if Lott violates terms of parole he’d send her to prison.

“The court is going to follow the agreed resolution,” said Kerenyi. “You pretty much got a break, and the reason for that is you pretty much have no criminal record.”

Lott was working for the Rite Aid Pharmacy on Greene Street when she was investigated by the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy, which found video and photos of Lott stealing the pills between July 1 and Sept. 11.

Lott said in court she was short on funds and chose to make money through the sale of pills.

Kerenyi also sentenced Lott to 200 hours of community service in lieu of 18-month prison sentences for each of the three counts of theft of drugs, all fourth-degree felonies.

Lott previously pleaded guilty to all three counts in exchange for the state dropping one count of aggravated possession which was a second-degree felony and two third-degree felony counts of aggravated possession.

“This was just an act of desperation,” explained Lott’s attorney, Shawna Landaker. “For a single mother who just had no ability to take care of her children at the time and was facing eviction, losing her car and her utilities being shut off. She’s remorseful, she’s sorry, I don’t think she’ll ever be in this court ever again.”

Kerenyi allowed Lott to speak before imposing her sentence.

“I had made several attempts in other ways to make the money, and it just seemed like a last-ditch effort–stupid, yes I know–but I definitely won’t do anything else stupid,” said Lott.

Kerenyi noted the pre-sentence report concluded Lott has a low risk of re-offending before sentencing her to community control under the supervision of the Adult Parole Authority, three concurrent two-year sentences.

“I understand this probably was an act of desperation, but it’s something that can’t be allowed to continue,” Kerenyi concluded. “If you can show us you can rehabilitate yourself by staying out of trouble and get in your community service hours, that’s great and will take care of this. However, if you’re back before the court again and you show me that this is a mistake to give you a chance, you’re facing up to 18 months on each count in prison.”

According to Assistant Prosecutor David Silwani, Lott’s parole supervision may be transferred to West Virginia under the Adult Parole Authority.

At a glance:

• Kaitlin Lott, 28, of 902 27th St., Vienna, was sentenced to two years of community control Friday in Washington County Common Pleas Court.

• Lott previously pleaded guilty on May 2 to three counts of theft of drugs, all fourth-degree felonies.

Source: Washington County Common Pleas Court.

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