By Nancy Bowman
Dayton Daily News
TROY, Ohio — A former Miami County sheriff ‘s deputy convicted of using deception to obtain prescription painkillers was sentenced to six months in prison by a judge who said he was trying to save the man from killing himself with the drugs.
“You need to learn that you can’t do this any more,” Judge Robert Lindeman told Josh Adkins, 34, of Tipp City on Monday. “I am going to wean you of this one way or another.”
Adkins pleaded guilty earlier this year to seven felonies of using deception to obtain prescription painkillers from January until early May 2011. He joined the sheriff ‘s office as a corrections officer in 1997, became a deputy in February 2002 and resigned in November.
“Josh Adkins was a good law enforcement officer for the Miami County Sheriff ‘s Office for many years,” defense lawyer Jose Lopez said following sentencing. “He got involved with prescription drugs due to an injury he suffered on duty. It simply spiraled out of control.”
Adkins had applied for a treatment in lieu of conviction program.
“I realize the mistakes that were made,” he told the judge Monday. He said he wanted to get his problems resolved but realized he needed assistance.
Lindeman rejected the request for treatment and a proposed plan from a county recovery agency, saying there was no process included to monitor Adkins’ behavior. He also pointed out Adkins recently was charged with domestic violence for an incident earlier this year involving drugs.
Lindeman read from a state prescription reporting system that showed Adkins had obtained several prescriptions for painkillers from several doctors in April and May. He said he counted 870 pills prescribed.
Adkins said those prescriptions were written following surgeries and one physician was aware of all medications.
Lindeman said he believed the record showed Adkins was continuing to engage in deceptive behavior. He said Adkins could see some time reduced from the prison term if he participated in drug-related programs at the penitentiary.
Copyright 2012 Dayton Newspapers, Inc.