Alaska State Troopers last week charged a couple with forging prescriptions and illegally obtaining hydrocodone, a potent pain reliever medication. David Henry, 32, was charged with 10 counts of second-degree forgery, nine counts of fourth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance and one count of second-degree theft, all felonies. Laura Jacobsen, 31, was charged with three counts of second-degree forgery, two counts of fourth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance and one count of second-degree theft. They also were charged with one count each of attempted fourth-degree drug misconduct.

According to charging documents, in late March an employee at the Homer Safeway Pharmacy reported to troopers that she had received what she suspected was a forged prescription for 150 hydrocodone pills. The employee said she called the doctor named on the prescription, and he said he had not written the prescription. Jacobsen’s name was on the prescription, troopers allege.

Trooper Ryan Browning talked to Jacobsen, and she is alleged to have told him she dropped off a prescription for Henry, her boyfriend. She said she did this several times and did not know the prescriptions were forged.

Browning interviewed Henry. He alleged Henry told him his girlfriend did not know he forged the prescriptions. He said he used Jacobsen’s name because she had insurance and got a prescription discount. Henry said he is addicted to hydrocodone and uses about 12-16 pills a day.

Browning showed copies of prior suspicious prescriptions from Safeway and Ulmer’s Pharmacy to the doctor, and he is alleged to have told troopers that nine of the prescriptions were forged. Troopers allege Henry forged prescriptions 10 times since November 2005, and that Jacobsen’s name was on three of the prescriptions. The medicine was valued at $665.91 total.

Michael Armstrong can be reached at michael.armstrong@homernews.com.