Two married San Diego police officers accused of selling and using painkillers are facing more allegations, which include conspiring to steal drugs from their own parent and burglarize a home while on the clock.
Details from the charging documents, obtained by NBC 7 on Monday, outline how Jennifer Charpentier, 41, and Bryce Charpentier, 32, used text messages to plot how to steal drugs they referred to as “V” in August and September 2013.
In one exchange, the couple text about Jennifer’s mother, who had prescription medication with her as she left Pomerado Hospital, the amended complaint says.
The string of communication allegedly details how Jennifer and Bryce took advantage of the victim’s visit to her daughter on Aug. 29, 2013.
When her mother comes over just to say “hi,” Jennifer advises Bryce to drive home and act as Jennifer takes her mother into the backyard.
The texts end with Bryce telling Jennifer that “he placed ‘V’ for her in a candle,” the complaint says. Less than a month later, Bryce texted his wife that he got a “decent amount” during a visit to his mother-in-law's, according to the court documents.
Around the same time, Jennifer texted Bryce the name and address of a person whose prescription medication they could steal, the documents say. Bryce allegedly responded by offering to use his patrol vehicle's computer to let his superior know he will be out on a follow-up call.
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While that scheme proved fruitless, another involving a person referred to as “M.B.” was more successful, according to investigators.
They say Jennifer texted M.B. to ask if Bryce and another officer could stop by to use his restroom. But the request became stranger when she asked the victim to lock himself in his own bedroom while the men came in, claiming the other officer did not want to be seen in his undercover clothing, the complaint says.
M.B. agreed and locked himself in. He discovered later that his legally prescribed medication was missing.
The complaint alleges other texts from Jennifer show she got a hold of ten doses of medication set to be impounded by another officer, and she offered to call in false prowler or welfare calls to gain access to a home where they knew a prescription was refilled.
By January 2014, the two had taken over an existing hydrocodone distribution network in San Diego County, at times delivering the illicit goods while with their child, the documents say.
The couple now faces three new charges of conspiracy to commit a crime, which include counts of first-degree burglary, possession of a controlled substance and sale of a controlled substance.
Both pleaded not guilty to the new charges.
Jennifer sat calmly through most of Monday’s hearing but started to cry as she was asked to address the judge.
In June, she told NBC 7 she was caught off guard by the allegations and she was confident everything would be worked out eventually.
The Charpentiers were put on leave by the SDPD after their arrests in June. They were each charged with selling and furnishing a controlled narcotic substance (hydrocodone) and with possession of a firearm by a felon or addict – charges to which they also pleaded not guilty.
