SMETHPORT  — A Kane woman will spend time in McKean County Jail for a conviction of three drug charges.

Kasey M. Chitester, 35, was found guilty by a jury Sept. 25 in McKean County Court of charges of acquiring a controlled substance by fraud, conspiracy acquiring a controlled substance by fraud and conspiracy criminal use of a communication device, all felonies.

She was sentenced Thursday before President Judge John Pavlock.

Chitester will serve 90 days to 23 ½ months in jail with credit for one day of time served. She will also have to have a drug and alcohol evaluation and a mental health evaluation.

District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer described the facts of the case.

According to Shaffer, Chitester worked with another person to have false prescriptions called in using the name of a doctor who was not involved and who did not prescribe any medication to the women.

Shaffer and the probation department both recommended that Chitester receive a state prison sentence.

Before she was sentenced, Chitester told Pavlock, “I’m not the same person that I was,” referring to the issues she was dealing with at the time.

According to Chitester, she is now a single mother who only recently got out of an unhealthy relationship, and she was “playing catch-up” with her mental health, financial health and her life in general.

She told Pavlock that she was the only one available to take care of her children, but added, “I understand I need punished,” she said.

Chitester said her co-defendant — Elaina M. Scharba of Kane — started the “scheme” and indicated to the judge that she was not aware when she was picking up pills for Scharba about the whole scheme.

However, Pavlock was skeptical about what Chitester was aware of, noting that she had a previous conviction for a violation of the public welfare code — also a “scheme.”