Police have charged a Hinton pharmacist with theft and trafficking of a controlled substance nearly 10 months after he admitted before a professional tribunal that he had supplied tens of thousands of Oxycontin tablets and other drugs to an individual without a prescription.

After what Hinton RCMP described as a “lengthy investigation,” Bryan Dean McIntyre was charged last week with two counts of trafficking and one count of theft over $5,000. Police allege McIntyre illegally supplied approximately 33,000 prescription pills over the course of a year to a single person.

According to evidence entered during a hearing tribunal of the Alberta College of Pharmacists, McIntyre admitted to supplying more than 31,000 tablets of Oxycontin, 1,900 tablets of Metadol, 1,100 tablets of Endocet, and 200 tablets of Ratio-Oxycocet to an individual identified as “D.B.” between December 2009 and December 2010.

“The volume of medications given to D.B. by the registrant is not consistent with the therapeutic guidelines for pain management and was beyond the amount an individual could logically consume,” a report detailing the decision of the tribunal states.

“This exceeded the Canadian Guidelines for Safe and Effective Use by approximately 3,000 times. As an experienced pharmacist the registrant either knew or should have known that D.B. was further trafficking the medication.”

McIntyre has been a registrant with the college since 2002.

According to the tribunal report, McIntyre “also acknowledges that he abused his position of trust and authority as a pharmacy licensee by altering the pharmacy’s electronic inventory records.”

The report goes on to describe “D.B.” as a “rogue” who “exploited” McIntyre, noting that McIntyre “was relieved” after the RCMP contacted both him and the Alberta College of Pharmacists and “halted his dispensing actions.”

“The registrant has co-operated with the RCMP,” the report states. “The registrant had no financial gain and takes full responsibility.”

In his own submission to the tribunal, McIntyre described himself as “not a bad guy, just an idiot,” according to the report.

The hearing tribunal took place on April 19, 2011, and on Aug. 26, 2011, it rendered its decision on the matter, issuing McIntyre a maximum fine of $10,000 for unprofessional conduct and a 30-month suspension of his permit to practise.

The tribunal agreed to conditionally stay the final 24 months of that suspension, however, given “consideration of the community and its need for a pharmacist.”

McIntyre is scheduled to appear in court in Hinton on March 7 to face the criminal charges.