A Lincoln firefighter stood at his attorney’s side in a courtroom Monday, facing allegations he stole a dying woman’s painkillers.

Mark Eberspacher, 54, of 2954 Fox Hollow Road, is the second firefighter to face drug charges after an investigation into separate incidents at Lincoln Fire & Rescue that spurred Mayor Chris Beutler to talk of drug testing.

On Monday, Lancaster County prosecutors charged Eberspacher with acquiring a controlled substance — hydrocodone — by theft and possession of a controlled substance.

Both are felonies, which carry the possibility of up to five years in prison, if he’s convicted.

Eberspacher’s attorney, Toney Redman, told Judge Jean Lovell he was going to have him screened to see if he qualifies for pre-trial diversion.

Lovell set his next court day for Sept. 25.

Monday morning, Eberspacher went to the police department for a pre-arranged meeting, Officer Katie Flood said.

They arrested and jailed him, but he had posted $250 bond and was out by  his afternoon court appearance.

On July 12, Eberspacher allegedly responded to a medical emergency call for an 82-year-old woman and returned to the house on South 39th Street the next day, asking to see the woman’s medication.

The woman’s sister-in-law told the Journal Star she believed the off-duty firefighter took a bottle of her terminally ill sister-in-law’s medication with him when he left.

The 82-year-old died July 17, though her sister-in-law said she does not believe she had been deprived of medication in her final days.

The woman, who earlier spoke with the Journal Star on the condition of anonymity, said she called 911 July 12 because she thought her sister-in-law was dying. But when firefighters arrived, she refused to be hospitalized.

One of the firefighters asked to go in the bedroom to see the patient, she said. He walked in, looked around, but didn’t say much. The woman told the Journal Star the firefighter returned July 13, asking to see her sister-in-law’s medication.

She believes he took one of the bottles and later identified him for police.

At a press conference in July, Fire Chief Niles Ford said neither firefighter has worked since the allegations came to light.

The other firefighter, John Massie, 28, of 2627 S.W. 14th St., was in court Monday, too, accused of acquiring a controlled substance — morphine — and possessing it.

Police learned of that incident as a result of a medical emergency July 5 involving Massie while he was on duty at Fire Station 1, 1801 Q St.

Police said firefighters at the station realized something was “gravely wrong” and that he might be under the influence of a controlled substance.

Massie later was charged with acquiring a controlled substance by fraud and possession of a controlled substance. He is set to return to court next month.

Reach Lori Pilger at 473-7237 or lpilger@journalstar.com.