Horry County nurse stole medicine from kids, police say. He could face 75 years in jail.
A Horry County nurse put children at risk by stealing their medication, police say.
Kyle Warton, a nurse at Lighthouse Behavioral Health Hospital, was arrested and charged with five counts of child neglect and five counts of theft of a controlled substance, according to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.
The arrest warrant states that between September 2019 and June 2020, Warton removed the contents of the pills he prescribed to children at the hospital where he worked and knowingly gave them medicine with no active ingredients.
The 28-year-old also stole drugs such as Adderall, Focalin and Vyvanse from the hospital, according to the warrant.
These drugs are commonly prescribed to help people with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or ADHD.
Warton is being held at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center with a $2,000 bail.
Child neglect charges carry a 10-year sentencing maximum and first offense drug theft charges carry a five year maximum. Facing five charges of each, Warton could face up to 75 years in prison.
This story was originally published August 19, 2020 at 2:34 PM.
