Kern County D.A.’s Wife Strikes a Deal in Prescription Drug Case
- Share via
The estranged wife of Kern County Dist. Atty. Ed Jagels pleaded no contest Wednesday to three counts of prescription drug fraud for trying to pass phony prescriptions at Bakersfield pharmacies.
The plea agreement between Bryanna Jagels, 32, and the state attorney general’s office calls for no jail time, said Jagels’ attorney, Kyle Humphrey. Instead, she could be required to spend up to a year in a drug treatment facility, perform up to 300 hours of community service and serve five years’ probation.
Humphrey called the outcome a good deal for his client. “This is a wonderful lady, who fell into an addiction to prescription drugs,” he said.
The attorney general’s office originally filed four felony and six misdemeanor charges of prescription fraud after Jagels was stopped by police on Nov. 26 after complaints by a pharmacy that a woman had tried to pass a prescription for a painkiller and sedative several days earlier. She pleaded no contest to one felony and two misdemeanors.
Ed Jagels filed for divorce and sole custody of the couple’s 4-year-old son just days after his wife was stopped by police.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
More From the Los Angeles Times
Podcasts
John Orr was a renowned fire investigator who was also a prolific arsonist, and whose thinly veiled novel helped to convict him. In this episode we hear from the fire captain who first suspected him—and from Orr himself.
Madison McGhee is joined by legendary Dateline host Josh Mankiewicz and esteemed L.A. Times Reporter Richard Winton as the three of them dive into all-things Menendez Brothers, the good, the bad, and the still unknown.
NPR climate editor Sadie Babits talks about why the media has long overlooked the climate crisis, and how that’s starting to change.
