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Prescription forger gets probation By CHRIS BRISTOL A former Rogue Valley Medical Center technician accused of stealing blank prescription slips from the hospital and forging them for pain pills admitted his guilt in court Monday and was placed on probation. Michael John Rodman, 41, said he did it to treat back pain. "It seemed easier than paying for a doctor's visit," he told Jackson County Judge Ray White, adding, "I've hit rock bottom. I've ruined my career. I've hurt my family. This will never ever happen again." Prosecutors said Rodman, an imaging specialist, forged at least 126 prescriptions in less than two years, using stolen prescriptions blanks to obtain painkillers such at Tylenol 3, which contains codeine, and a muscle relaxant called Carisoprodol. Rodman pleaded guilty to four counts of tampering with drug records, a Class C felony. In exchange, prosecutors dropped eight remaining counts. White sentenced Rodman to 10 days in jail and 18 months of probation. Rodman served nine days before the trial, prompting the judge to give him credit for all 10 days. "Sometimes a 10-day (sentence) convinces them they never want to go back," White said. "We'll see if it works out that way this time." The state Law Enforcement Data System recorded 140 prescription-fraud offenses statewide in 1997, the most recent year of statistics available. Jackson County figures were not available. Nobody tracks medical workers, except pharmacists or their assistants. Prosecutors said Rodman stole blank prescription slips from the hospital and redeemed them at several local pharmacies, using his own name and aliases. He was caught in November, when a pharmacist who split time between two drugstores recognized him and notified the hospital. Deputy District Attorney Allen Smith asked the judge to sentence Rodman to 40 days in jail. "This was a long course of conduct that went on under different names, using different doctors and different pharmacies," he told the court. But Rodman's public defender, Brad Sands, urged the judge not to impose jail time, noting that Rodman had no criminal record before a misdemeanor conviction last year for the same thing. "I don't consider him a criminal, although he committed criminal acts," Sands said. "The fact is, he is an addict." Sands also said his client's radiology technician license has been revoked. A spokeswoman for the state Board of Radiologic Technology in Portland said the case is pending and that she was prohibited from discussing it until then. Rodman told the court he now lives in the Redding, Calif., area and works as a landscaper. His wife, who wore a neck brace in court, tearfully begged the court not to impose jail time because "my husband is not a criminal" and is the sole source of income for the family. In lieu of more jail time, Rodman was ordered to perform 80 hours of community service and pay $815 in court costs. RVMC spokeswoman Leslie deSchweinitz said Rodman is no longer employed at the hospital. Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA