Elgin woman charged with trying to fool drug test

A 26-year-old Elgin woman six months pregnant was arrested Wednesday on allegations she tried to pass off someone else's urine as her own during a court-ordered drug test.

Ryan L. Burke, of the 0-100 block of Alfred Avenue, faces a charge of defrauding a drug and alcohol screening test, a felony punishable by a maximum three years in prison, stemming from the arrest inside the McHenry County courthouse.

Sheriff's police said Burke strapped a small bottle containing a friend's urine onto her chest and smuggled it into the county's probation offices Wednesday. A probation officer spotted the bottle, leading to her arrest.

Court records show Burke is required to undergo drug testing under the terms of a two-year probation sentence, handed down in January 2009 after her conviction for heroin possession.

Sheriff's Sgt. Michael Cisner said Burke told investigators she currently is using Methadone, a drug prescribed for heroin withdrawal, and feared traces of illegal drugs would also be found in her urine. Court records show Burke previously failed a drug test early this year or late last year.

Investigators are trying to determine whether Burke had a prescription for the Methadone and will look into whether potential drug use by Burke caused harm to her unborn child.

"If she's done something to endanger to the child, or the child (is born) with issues, there may be further charges," Cisner said.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Methadone can used safely during pregnancy.

After her arrest, Burke was transferred to the county jail, where she remained Thursday unable to post a $20,000 bond.