PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- A judge has sentenced a jail nurse convicted of forging a prescription for an inmate who died hours later to 18 months probation.

William Lee James, 59, was convicted Thursday of giving Ativan, a sedative, to Jody Gilbert Norman, 49 at night in February of 2005. He indicated on a form that he had a doctor's OK to do so and that the doctor had said he didn't want to be awakened for approval to administer the drug.

Dr. Todd Engstrom denied giving those instructions.

Norman, who had a history of drug and heart problems, had been complaining of chest pains.

Norman died about three hours later. The Multnomah County district attorney's office said it didn't learn of the incident until late 2007.