A former hospice nurse pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges alleging she forged prescriptions while employed at a Casper hospice program.

Nina Bhutto, 43, entered not guilty pleas to four counts of forgery and four counts of script fraud. The maximum combined penalty for all eight charges is 60 years behind bars and $80,000 in fines.

During her brief arraignment in Natrona County District Court, Bhutto spoke only to answer procedural questions from Judge David Park. She is free on $2,500 bond and appeared in court in street clothes.

Prosecutors say Bhutto created fake prescriptions for people that weren't using the medications. Authorities don't allege she was depriving patients of medication or redistributing the drugs.

In August, the executive director of Central Wyoming Hospice program told agents with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation that she suspected Bhutto had illegally obtained pain medications from a pharmacy by using the names of patients in the program, according to a DCI affidavit.

Bhutto resigned from the program in July.

DCI agents who visited a Bi-Rite Pharmacy in Casper were given four prescriptions that were allegedly dropped off and picked up by Bhutto. They appeared to have been altered after the doctor issued them, the affidavit states.

The medications named in allegations against Bhutto are Alprazolam and Oxycodone, records show. Oxycodone is a narcotic pain reliever and Alprazolam is prescribed for anxiety and often sold under the brand name Xanax.

Bhutto's trial is set for February.

Reach Joshua Wolfson at (307) 266-0582 or at josh.wolfson@trib.com.