Former nurse will face more charges of theft of drugs

7/11/2014

A former nurse at ProMedica Toledo Hospital was indicted Thursday by a Lucas County grand jury on eight additional counts of theft of drugs.

Vicki Rhodus, 29, of 3714 Kershaw Ave. had been scheduled for a bench trial before Common Pleas Judge Gene Zmuda on one count of theft of drugs, but her trial was postponed after prosecutors said they anticipated new charges. She is accused of removing medications for patients in August, 2012, but failing to document the administration of those drugs.

Defense attorney Jerome Phillips said he was prepared for trial Thursday and believes the new indictment was brought because Ms. Rhodus chose to exercise her right to trial.

Jeff Lingo, chief of the criminal division for the Lucas County Prosecutor’s Office, said prosecutors chose to charge her with a single count initially even though they were aware of the other incidents. “Because the case is now headed to trial, the state exercised its right to charge her with every incident for which it has evidence,” he said.