Post by Shuftin on Jul 27, 2006 9:37:06 GMT -5
2006-07-25
WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - A former West Des Moines police technician who admitted stealing department cash to fuel his gambling addiction is now close to freedom after a Polk County judge agreed to reconsider his 10-year prison sentence.
Charles Edward Graham, 43, was sentenced in March after he pleaded guilty of first-degree theft from the police evidence room.
Graham, who was West Des Moines' sole evidence custodian before he resigned last fall, has acknowledged stealing $37,000 in forfeited drug money over four years.
The money disappeared in increments of between $300 and $2,900,according to Graham and was used to fuel his gambling addiction.
Defense attorney Trever Hook said in court Tuesday that Graham has received excellent evaluations during his three months in state prison.
"We believe that the lesson learned is sufficient, and that he would be a good candidate for probation at this time," Hook said.
Judge Robert Hutchison ultimately agreed. Huchison suspended the rest of Graham's sentence on the condition that he receive a mental health and substance abuse evaluation, as well as receive treatment for his gambling addiction.
It was not immediately clear how soon Graham would be released from the state prison at Oakdale.
WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - A former West Des Moines police technician who admitted stealing department cash to fuel his gambling addiction is now close to freedom after a Polk County judge agreed to reconsider his 10-year prison sentence.
Charles Edward Graham, 43, was sentenced in March after he pleaded guilty of first-degree theft from the police evidence room.
Graham, who was West Des Moines' sole evidence custodian before he resigned last fall, has acknowledged stealing $37,000 in forfeited drug money over four years.
The money disappeared in increments of between $300 and $2,900,according to Graham and was used to fuel his gambling addiction.
Defense attorney Trever Hook said in court Tuesday that Graham has received excellent evaluations during his three months in state prison.
"We believe that the lesson learned is sufficient, and that he would be a good candidate for probation at this time," Hook said.
Judge Robert Hutchison ultimately agreed. Huchison suspended the rest of Graham's sentence on the condition that he receive a mental health and substance abuse evaluation, as well as receive treatment for his gambling addiction.
It was not immediately clear how soon Graham would be released from the state prison at Oakdale.