Sebastian Woman Jailed In Drug Theft Case

A housekeeper in Sebastian has been accused of stealing pain pills from a 72-year-old she worked for and who was recovering after surgery. The name of the victim has not been released, but the Indian River Sheriff’s Office says she contacted them, saying her housekeeper, Joan Hagene of Sebastian, stole 63 pills from her prescription bottle. She told investigators that Hagene was the only person other than her who had been in the home. When questioned by deputies about it, Hagene claimed she didn’t steal 63 pills, but she did admit to taking two of them. Deputies say they found her in possession of all of them though. Hagene is now facing charges including Possession of a Controlled Substance and Grand Theft of a Controlled Substance. She was placed in the Indian River County Jail, with bond set at $7,000.