Former Merriam official pleads guilty to misconduct

A former Merriam public works director pleaded guilty Thursday to a felony charge of official misconduct.

Randall L. Carroll, 61, admitted in Johnson County District Court that he took steps to conceal the theft of fuel that belonged to the city.

A second charge of theft was dismissed as part of Thursday’s plea agreement.

Carroll, of Olathe, had been employed by Merriam for 34 years before he was fired last September after the crimes were discovered.

According to court documents, the thefts occurred between October 2014 and Sept. 3, 2015.

In court Thursday, prosecutors said other public works employees became suspicious when they noticed fuel missing from a large tank. They surreptitiously set up a camera, which captured Carroll on multiple occasions taking gas from the tank and putting it in his personal vehicle.

The camera also captured images of him erasing tire tracks left by his vehicle near the tank.

Sentencing for Carroll is scheduled for July 11.

This story was originally published May 19, 2016 at 10:14 AM with the headline "Former Merriam official pleads guilty to misconduct."