HOULTON, Maine — A 32-year veteran of the U.S. Postal Service was arrested and charged on Monday with multiple drug offenses after police said that he stole prescription medications that were supposed to be delivered to local residents.

Houlton Police Chief Butch Asselin said Tuesday that Joey Skehan, 57, of Houlton has been charged with five counts of stealing drugs and two counts of unlawful possession of a Schedule W drug. All of the crimes took place while he was employed as a postal worker and the thefts took place at the U.S. post office on Court Street in Houlton, the chief said.

The investigation began last July and Skehan became a suspect last October, according to Asselin. Houlton police Officer Kris Calaman and an agent from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation. Skehan’s activities at the post office were monitored periodically using video surveillance at an undisclosed location.

Skehan, who arrived for work at about 5 a.m., often sorted the incoming mail, according to police. Asselin said that Skehan would observe the packages sent from the VHA, scan them but not place the notices in the addressee’s post office box. Skehan then allegedly would take the medications from the post office when he went home later in the afternoon.

full story: Bangor Daily News