Second man sentenced for pain-pill theft

BILLINGS (AP) — A physical therapy assistant who stole prescription pain medication from dozens of patients in the Scobey area and replaced some of it with over-the-counter pain medication has been sentenced to four years of probation and ordered to complete a six-month residential drug treatment program.

Cole Handran, 33, received the same punishment on Thursday that physical therapist Kevin Criswell of Libby received Wednesday. 

District Judge Susan Watters held them jointly responsible for $6,400 in restitution to victim Kent Cromwell.

Cromwell submitted a letter to the court saying the thefts caused his wife to believe he was abusing his pain medication, threatened their marriage and led to him being hospitalized in a psychiatric ward after two suicide attempts.

Handran was suspended from his job at Daniels Memorial Hospital in May and his state license was suspended last month.