Republican Town of Thompson council member Scott Mace - who is currently challenging Democratic incumbent Bill Rieber for the town supervisor position in November - was arrested on May 10 and charged with criminal possession of narcotics in the 4th degree, a felony.
The 53-year-old former pharmacy owner was also charged with a second felony (falsifying business records) and a misdemeanor (petty larceny).
Mace, who was first elected in 2011 and who has also served as deputy supervisor, is the former owner of the Rock Hill Pharmacy. It is alleged that Mace stole $20 worth of prescription medication from his former drugstore. A source told this media outlet that the drug stolen was oxycontin.
The arrest was confirmed by Troop F spokesperson Steven Nevel and the charges were confirmed by the Town of Thompson court. However, Nevel told The SullivanTimes that no further information was available about the arrest. Mace's name does not appear in the Troop F newsroom reports (that includes arrests) that's available to the public online.
Mace, a council member since 2011 who has also served as the deputy supervisor, appeared in Town of Thompson court on Wednesday but Justices Sharon Jankiewicz ,
and Martin Miller had to recuse themselves. The matter is now pending before Sullivan County Court. At press time, no court date has been set for his appearance.
A source with knowledge of the arrest said that the narcotic possession was for oxycontin, which is prescribed for severe pain and which is known to be extremely addictive.
The Food and Drug Administration describes oxycontin as "a strong prescription pain medicine that contains an opioid (narcotic) that is used to manage pain severe enough to require daily around-the-clock, long-term treatment with an opioid, when other pain treatments such as non-opioid pain medicines or immediate-release opioid medicines do not treat your pain well enough or you cannot tolerate them."
Mace, who owned the Rock Hill Pharmacy from 2004 until 2018, could not be reached for comment at press time.
The SullivanTimes has also reached out to District Attorney Meagan Galligan for any further information about the case.
Note: The story was updated on October 6 regarding the number of felonies that Mace was charged with. It was two, not one, as previously reported. The SullivanTimes regrets the error.
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