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Former Billings police evidence technician changes plea to guilty in pill-stealing case

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BILLINGS- A Billings woman who initially admitted to police she stole close to a thousand pills collected as evidence in over 130 cases from the Billings police evidence locker has changed her plea to guilty.

Rawlyn Strizich, 38, was charged in June of 2018 and changed her plea in Yellowstone County District Court on Friday.

Strizich was hired as an evidence technician for the Billings police in September 2016 and told her supervisor that she started stealing the pills in July 2017 for her personal use.

She was fired by the Billings Police Department for stealing drug evidence in February 2018.

In January 2018, she contacted her supervisor at the evidence facility and admitted to stealing pills from the drug cage located inside the building.

In a plea deal, Strizich said she is guilty of purposely destroying and removing evidence.

Her sentencing date has not yet been set, but prosecutors have recommended that Strizich complete a drug intervention program and pay the city of Billings restitution.

Rawlyn Strizich.