The former office manager for a doctor’s office in Sarver was sentenced Tuesday for fraudulently authorizing painkiller prescriptions for herself, her husband and a friend.

Dawn R. Thompson of Apollo pleaded guilty to obtaining controlled substances by misrepresentation and filing a fraudulent insurance claim.

Butler County Judge William Shaffer sentenced Thompson to serve 11 to 23 months in prison but immediately paroled her. She will serve 18 months of house arrest during her parole, and then serve two years of probation when her parole expires.

She also must do 60 hours of community service and pay a $750 fine.

According to court records, Thompson had been the office manager at the Sarver Family Practice for 10 years before being fired Oct. 23, 2013.

According to court records, on that day a nurse at the office got a call from a pharmacy seeking verification for a prescription for painkillers that was presented by Thompson’s husband and allegedly signed by a doctor at the office.

Court records say the nurse told the pharmacy not to fill the prescription. However, when the nurse called the pharmacy back, officials there said they had gotten the “OK” to fill the prescription from Thompson. She was confronted and fired immediately.

Thompson also reportedly overrode the nurses’ decision not to fill prescriptions for Thompson’s friend, Meghan Cavanaugh, 29, of Renfrew.

Court records say Cavanaugh earlier had been a patient at the medical center but had been asked “politely to find a new PCP.”

Court records indicate a check of pharmacies showed numerous unauthorized prescriptions filled to Thompson, her husband and Cavanaugh dating back to 2013.

In court, Thompson said only that she apologized for her actions.

Cavanaugh pleaded guilty to the same charges and was sentenced to serve 6 to 22 months in jail. She also was immediately paroled but must spend a year on house arrest. She must pay a $500 fine.

The judge said later that both defendants likely will be ordered to pay restitution to the insurance company.

Charges in both cases were prosecuted by the state attorney general’s Office.