Pubdate: Sat, 27 May 2000 Source: Tulsa World (OK) Copyright: 2000 World Publishing Co. Contact: P.O. Box 1770, Tulsa, OK 74102 Website: http://www.tulsaworld.com/ Author: Rod Walton EX-OFFICER PLEADS GUILTY TO STEALING MUSKOGEE -- A former Muskogee police officer pleaded guilty Friday to stealing more than $30,000 from his department's fund for undercover drug bust operations. Joseph Randolph entered his blind plea to a felony embezzlement count in front of District Judge Mike Norman. The blind plea meant that Randolph had made no plea bargain with Muskogee County prosecutors. He will be sentenced by Norman on July 28. "The only statement he gave was `I took money out of the evidence locker,' " Assistant District Attorney David Pierce said. The amount of money, investigators believe, was $30,378 taken over a period of time and from different accounts. Some of the funds used were reserved for undercover-unit equipment and some was from seizures, Pierce said. Although the District Attorney's Office has made no penalty recommendation, state guidelines say Randolph could serve up to five years in prison and pay $3,000 in fines as well as restitution. The city of Muskogee has been negotiating with Randolph and his attorney, Orville Loge, on possible methods of restitution. One possibility, Pierce said, was paying the city back money from Randolph's retirement account. Loge previously has stated his client planned to make restitution. Sending Randolph to prison, however, would make that payback impossible, he said. Randolph was a 20-year police veteran and former member of Muskogee's special investigations unit. He was charged last year with the embezzlement count. Randolph was arrested after leaving Muskogee for Wisconsin. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake