Plea changed in narcotics scam case

As much as eighteen months in prison for a man who tried to scam Juneau pharmacists out of narcotics.

Robert A. Biddinger, 44, turned himself into Unalaska police in January. A Juneau grand jury handed up a 44-count indictment against him and a companion on drug charges.

He changed his plea on two of the charges on Thursday. The other twenty felonies filed against him were dropped as part of an agreement with prosecutors.

Assistant District Attorney Angie Kemp says Donya Owens, 29, would say that she was calling in prescriptions on behalf of a dentist. She would also say that Biddinger would pick them up.

Kemp says the Foodland A & P pharmacist, who also works at Juneau Drug, got suspicious with placement of the prescriptions that included a cell phone as a return number. Biddinger picked up twenty vicodin at Safeway last August and another twenty at Foodland in September. According to Kemp, both Owens and Biddinger said they knew they “messed up” or “screwed up”. The pills were for personal use only, not resale.

Biddinger said nothing in court on Thursday besides answering routine questions, asking a few questions, and entering guilty pleas.

His sentencing is planned for May 8.

Owens’ next court appearance is April 26.

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