| For Immediate Release Case # 12NM01243 March 8, 2012 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
CHP OFFICER TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR POSSESSING BLANK PRESCRIPTION FORMS TO TAKE PAID MEDICAL TIME OFF FROM WORK
FULLERTON – A California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer will be arraigned tomorrow on charges of possessing blank prescription forms and using them to take paid medical time off from work. Deborah Therese Sparso, 46, Anaheim Hills, is charged with one misdemeanor count of manufacturing, copying or reproducing false prescription blank forms and faces a maximum sentence of six months in jail if convicted. Sparso is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow, Friday, March 9, 2012, at 8:30 a.m. in Department N-11, North Justice Center, Fullerton.
Between Sept. 15, 2008, and April 15, 2011, Sparso is accused of possessing blank prescription forms while working as a CHP officer in Westminster. Sparso is accused of using the blank forms to take excused, paid time off from work and receiving over $11,000 from the agency.
The doctor whose name is on the prescription did not write the note or authorized anyone to write the note.
Senior Deputy District Attorney John Christl of the Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting this case.
###