Former Raytown police officer pleads guilty to stealing evidence
A former Raytown police officer admitted Thursday that he stole drugs and jewelry from his Police Department’s evidence room.
Justin Pool, 37, pleaded guilty to three felony counts and two misdemeanor counts of theft.
Jackson County Circuit Judge Kenneth R. Garrett III sentenced Pool to two years of probation with several conditions. If Pool fails to comply with the conditions, he faces two years in prison.
According to court records, Pool stole oxycodone pills and gold jewelry beginning in January 2013.
On several occasions, Pool told a department evidence technician that he needed to check evidence out so he could photograph it for a class he was teaching. In one instance, Pool checked out a bag containing 32 oxycodone pills. After Pool returned the bag, those pills had been replaced by others that were not controlled substances.
In other thefts, Pool requested bags containing jewelry that he later returned with less expensive items, or with the evidence missing.
Prosecutors charged Pool in October 2013.
Brian Burnes: 816-234-4120, @BPBthree
This story was originally published November 5, 2015 at 3:05 PM with the headline "Former Raytown police officer pleads guilty to stealing evidence."