Mary Ann McCardle is on three years probation after admitting she stole hydrocodone pills from a Wheeling pharmacy where she was employed

As a condition of the probation, U.S. District Court Judge Frederick P. Stamp ordered McCardle, 53, of Wheeling to serve six months of home detention.

The sentencing came last week after McCardle pleaded guilty on April 8 to one count of possession with intent to distribute hydrocodone.

"In the fall of 2008, the pharmacist of the Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy on National Road in Wheeling discovered a shortage of hydrocodone pills (vicoprofen)," said U.S. Attorney Sharon Potter.

"From in-store security cameras, McCardle, a pharmacy tech, was captured on an October 14 video while stealing hydrocodone pills and putting them in her pocket.

"When confronted by agents on October 24, 88 vicoprofen pills were recovered from McCardle's residence."

Potter said as a result of the felony plea, both under federal regulations and pharmacy board rules, McCardle loses her certification as a pharmacy tech and has relinquished her license.

The West Virginia State Police-Bureau of Criminal Investigations and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney John C. Parr prosecuted it.