Former veterinarian employee charged with substance fraud
A Bonnerdale man was arrested Thursday morning on a November 2015 felony warrant alleging he took narcotics from a veterinarian clinic he was working for at the time.
Christopher Wayne Weatherford, 41, was taken into custody shortly after 8 a.m. and charged with obtaining a controlled substance by fraud, punishable by up to six years in prison. He bonded out and is set to appear Oct. 4 in Garland County District Court.
According to the affidavit, on Nov. 10, 2015, the owner of a local veterinary clinic stated agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration came to her business to investigate large purchases of a certain controlled drug. After interviews with the owner and Weatherford, an employee, Weatherford allegedly admitted he was taking controlled substances from the business. Weatherford was terminated from the clinic and the owner was advised by DEA agents to file charges against him for obtaining a controlled substance by fraud.
DEA agents conducted a follow-up interview with Weatherford regarding the missing drug information. He allegedly admitted to stealing hydrocodone, fentanyl and morphine for his own personal use. Weatherford also stated he filled out the DEA-222 order forms and had the veterinarian sign them “to supply his addiction.” He revealed a “needle track mark” on his left arm at the elbow and said he was taking 25 to 30 tablets of hydrocodone a day.