This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A former Syracuse Fire chief has pleaded guilty to illegally obtaining prescription drugs.
Craig Cottrell, 46, was charged in 2nd District Court with two counts of illegally obtaining a prescription under false pretenses, a third-degree felony.
He entered a plea in abeyance to the charges on May 23. According to court documents, if Cottrell abides by the plea in abeyance agreement by attending drug counseling, paying fines, submitting to drug tests and violating no other laws, the crimes will be removed from his record after three years.
Cottrell admitted in court papers that he received two prescriptions for controlled substances from different medical providers without informing each of them.
The crimes occurred between Dec. 10, 2010, and Nov. 3, 2011, charges state.
Charges were filed against Cottrell in November 2011. He resigned from his position as fire chief the day charges were filed, citing health reasons, according to the Syracuse city manager.
Twitter: @jm_miller