South Elgin woman who stole Vicodin gets community service

A 41-year-old former nurse was sentenced this week to two years probation and community service after she admitted to stealing Vicodin from a resident at an assisted living facility in South Elgin.

Dionne Schmitz, of the 1600 block of River Road in South Elgin, pleaded guilty Wednesday to misdemeanor theft and felony possession of a controlled substance.

Kane County Judge Karen Simpson accepted the plea, which also requires Schmitz to pay $45 in restitution and perform 200 hours of community service by mid-May 2012, according to court records.

Schmitz was arrested in April while she worked as nursing assistant at the Heritage Woods Assisted Living Center, 700 N. McLean Blvd.

She initially was charged with burglary, possession of a controlled substance and financial exploitation of the elderly, according to police and court records.

As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors dropped the most serious of those charges, which carried a top prison term of 15 years.

At the time of her arrest, South Elgin Police said Schmitz was caught on tape stealing 66 Vicodin pills from a resident at the facility.

Schmitz is no longer employed at the facility, said a receptionist there.

A message for the Heritage Woods director was not immediately returned Thursday.