Forger shows up in court with phony doctor note

A California woman facing nearly five years in prison for forging drug prescriptions showed up for sentencing with a phony doctor’s note seeking a delay in the proceedings.

Michelle Elaine Astumian, 41, was free on $45,000 bail and pleaded no contest in January to felony counts of forgery and using a fraudulent check. Astumian arrived Monday for sentencing in a San Luis Obispo County courtroom and presented a note with a doctor’s signature asking for a postponement.

Prosecutor Dave Pomeroy called the doctor, who said the note is a forgery. The judge immediately ordered Astumian into custody and she collapsed to the floor. An ambulance took her to a hospital. Pomeroy told the San Luis Obispo County Tribune that Astumian will be sentenced later, but he doesn’t know when.