Brooksville man arrested in drug case

A homeless man was arrested Monday afternoon after he attempted to collect 210 oxycodone tablets with a fraudulent prescription, deputies said.

The Hernando County Sheriff's Office was called shortly after 2:30 p.m. to Nature Coast Pharmacy at 4654 Commercial Way, according to an arrest report.

A pharmacy technician called authorities after Steven A. Casler, 29, had dropped off a prescription for oxycodone that appeared to be fraudulent, deputies said.

While a deputy investigated, Casler returned to the pharmacy to pick up the prescription, at which time he was questioned, according to the report.

The date on the prescription had been erased, deputies said. A nurse from the doctor's office listed on the bottle arrived at the pharmacy and confirmed the prescription was fake, according to the sheriff's office.

A background check revealed Casler also has been arrested in May 2009 in Pinellas County for attempting to obtain a controlled substance with a fraudulent prescription, deputies said.

Casler, who has no known address, was transported to the Hernando County Jail. His bond was set at $5,000.