JUNEAU -- A nurse is accused of stealing drugs from Juneau's Bartlett Regional Hospital.

According to court documents, 58-year-old Victoria Peppenger lost her out-of-state nursing license in 1995 because of drug addiction.

Assistant District Attorney Jack Schmidt told Judge Keith Levy that Peppenger entered a treatment program that year for an addiction to hydrocodone, a narcotic pain reliever.

An agreement between Peppenger and the Alaska Division of Occupational Licensing in 2001 regarding the matter allowed her to begin working as a nurse in the state.

Peppenger was arrested Wednesday on charges of drug possession and theft after a doctor at Bartlett reported suspected drug tampering.

Hospital CEO Shawn Morrow says Peppenger was a recent hire and had been working there for less than a month.