Pubdate: Sat, 19 Jul 2003
Source: Oklahoman, The (OK)
Copyright: 2003 The Oklahoma Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.oklahoman.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/318
Author: Diana Baldwin
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption - United States)

EX-LAB DIRECTOR PLEADS GUILTY IN FALSIFIED EVIDENCE CASE

A man facing a racketeering charge for preparing fake exhibits for the 
court pleaded guilty to a lesser charge Friday in return for a suspended 
sentence. Joe Clay Bouldin, 49, the former director of Bulldog Laboratory, 
pleaded guilty to two counts of preparation of false evidence for the 
court. As part of a plea agreement with the district attorney, he was given 
a two-year suspended sentence on each count, to run consecutively.

In an unrelated case, he received a one-year suspended sentence on a 
conviction of making a false statement to obtain unemployment, putting him 
on probation for a total of five years.

If convicted on the racketeering charge, Bouldin could have faced 10 years 
in prison and could have been forced to forfeit his assets.

Bouldin and Joy Lynn Lippe, 33, a counselor at the Oklahoma City drug and 
alcohol testing laboratory, were arrested as part of an undercover police 
sting operation. Charges against Lippe are pending and prosecutors expect 
her case to be settled soon.

The district attorney accused Bouldin and Lippe of providing negative urine 
and hair drug-test reports in exchange for money, sex and drugs.

The laboratory, located in the Investors Capital Building next to the 
Oklahoma County office building and courthouse, contracted with Oklahoma 
County District Court and 38 businesses.

Their arrests led to an investigation by District Attorney Wes Lane, who 
feared the fake drug and alcohol tests were used in Oklahoma County 
criminal and domestic cases.

Assistant District Attorney Stephen Alcorn said no one was convicted based 
on a faulty drug test from Bulldog Laboratory.

Alcorn estimated about a half dozen defendants might have gotten lighter 
sentences because of a falsified drug test report.

In drug court, Alcorn said, about two dozen defendants began testing 
positive once they were ordered to go to a different laboratory during the 
investigation into Bulldog Laboratory.

Drug court is a program where drug defendants are offered court-monitored 
treatment and counseling instead of prosecution of their charges and 
possible prison time.

Defense attorney Beau Williams accused the district attorney of "seriously 
over-charging" Bouldin.

"But after further investigation, in all fairness, Mr. Steve Alcorn .. took 
a fresh look and realized it was overcharged and we were able to work out 
an agreement that was more appropriate," Williams said.

Alcorn disagreed, saying the proper charges were filed against Bouldin.

"In drug cases, the state is faced with a balance between punishment and 
rehabilitation," Alcorn said. "We had to consider that Mr. Bouldin has gone 
through extensive treatment and the cost of a prolonged trial where experts 
have to testify to complex laboratory procedures and the cost of a 
recovering drug addict reliving a painful time in their lives.

"It was determined this serves the best interest of the state and Mr. 
Bouldin. He will have a felony conviction and will not have access to 
people in that stage of their recovery again."

Bouldin told The Oklahoman he was addicted to alcohol for 25 years but has 
now been sober for just over a year after attending a three-month inpatient 
treatment program.

He said he was never addicted to drugs but could not say he had never 
smoked marijuana.

Bouldin now lives in rural Seminole County and works for a brick 
manufacturing company in quality control.

"I have turned several people to Jesus Christ and am active in my church," 
Bouldin said.

Williams complimented Bouldin for making positive changes in his life.

"Mr. Bouldin, since this incident, has completely turned his life around," 
Williams said. "He voluntarily went into three months of drug and alcohol 
treatment where he learned life skills that not only helped him with the 
issues here (in court) but has helped him put his own personal life together."

In July, Bouldin received a special commendation at the rehabilitation 
center for his year-long sobriety and for working with other people to 
overcome their addictions, his attorney said.
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