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pshawny
Mycobian
Registered: 09/11/04
Posts: 1,332
Loc: Shroomery
Last seen: 15 years, 1 month
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Ex-Crime Lab Worker Took Confiscated Drugs
#4502116 - 08/05/05 11:07 PM (18 years, 7 months ago) |
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Ex-Crime Lab Worker Took Confiscated Drugs 8/5/05 startribune.com
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) - A former crime lab technician with the Missouri State Highway Patrol pleaded guilty to stealing confiscated drugs - thefts that forced prosecutors to dismiss or decline to prosecute nearly 400 cases.
Authorities said 31-year-old Matthew Barb, of Ozark, was responsible for testing about one-third of the suspected illegal drugs arriving at the patrol's lab from southwest Missouri. He was charged in August 2004.
Prosecutors in Greene County, where Barb pleaded guilty Thursday, said they were forced to dismiss or decline 284 cases because the theft allegations tainted them. In neighboring Christian County, nearly 100 drug cases were dismissed.
Barb faces a maximum of seven years in prison, but as part of a plea agreement, prosecutors will recommend a five-year term. Sentencing is scheduled for next month.
"I think it's fair,'' said assistant Greene County prosecutor Mike Huddleston, noting the crime was Barb's first offense.
Defense attorney Dee Wampler said he will ask a judge for probation with the understanding that Barb would undergo drug treatment and counseling. He is already getting counseling, as well as treatment for depression, the lawyer said.
"He was a good criminalist and chemist with the Missouri State Highway Patrol,'' Wampler said. "This matter would ... never have been discovered but for the fact that Mr. Barb came forward.'' (PROFILE (COUNTRY:United States; ISOCOUNTRY3:USA; UNTOP:021; APGROUP:NorthAmerica;)
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Ekstaza
stranger than most
Registered: 04/10/03
Posts: 4,324
Loc: Around the corner
Last seen: 11 months, 20 days
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Re: Ex-Crime Lab Worker Took Confiscated Drugs [Re: pshawny]
#4507310 - 08/07/05 02:55 PM (18 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
Wampler said. "This matter would ... never have been discovered but for the fact that Mr. Barb came forward.''
What a jackass. Why not just stop using if you are ready to quit. No need to destroy your own life.
-------------------- YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH ANY GIVEN DRUG ISN'T THE DEFINITIVE MEASURE OF THE DRUGS EFFECTS.
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Ravus
Not an EggshellWalker
Registered: 07/18/03
Posts: 7,991
Loc: Cave of the Patriarchs
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Re: Ex-Crime Lab Worker Took Confiscated Drugs [Re: pshawny]
#4512570 - 08/08/05 10:55 PM (18 years, 7 months ago) |
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At least he had a good impact on the drug cases around him.
-------------------- So long as you are praised think only that you are not yet on your own path but on that of another.
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veggie
Registered: 07/25/04
Posts: 17,504
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Re: Ex-Crime Lab Worker Took Confiscated Drugs [Re: pshawny]
#4744800 - 10/02/05 09:58 AM (18 years, 5 months ago) |
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Lab tech sentenced for drug theft October 2, 2005 - columbiatribune.com
SPRINGFIELD (AP) - A former crime lab technician whose theft of confiscated drugs forced prosecutors to drop hundreds of narcotics cases has been sentenced to five years in prison.
Matthew Barb, 31, of Ozark offered a tearful apology, calling his actions "stupid, wrong and disgraceful," before the sentence was imposed Friday.
Authorities said Barb was responsible for testing about a third of the suspected illegal drugs arriving at the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s lab from southwest Missouri. He was charged in August 2004.
Barb admitted he was using methamphetamine taken from samples he examined at the Springfield lab, court documents said.
Prosecutors in Greene County, where Barb pleaded guilty, said they were forced to dismiss or decline 284 cases because the theft allegations tainted them. In neighboring Christian County, nearly 100 drug cases were dismissed.
Assistant Greene County Prosecutor Cynthia Rushefsky said Barb deserved incarceration.
She said Barb confessed to the crime after a year of stealing and using drugs. She said the drugs had made him so sick that it was difficult for him to testify as a witness in cases he worked.
"I think the noose not only tightened around his neck, but he was hanging from a tree at that point," she said.
But defense attorney Dee Wampler of Springfield said Barb should be given probation because he had no prior criminal record and admitted his crime.
In ordering prison time, Greene County Circuit Judge Don Burrell Jr. said Barb had "put a dagger in the heart of the criminal justice system."
With good behavior, he said the former chemist could be released after 120 days. Barb had faced a maximum of seven years in prison before entering into a plea agreement.
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