Pubdate: Fri, 05 Aug 2005
Source: Springfield News-Leader (MO)
25/1007
Copyright: 2005 The Springfield News-Leader
Contact:  http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1129
Author:  Andrew Tangel

EX-LAB WORKER ADMITS METH THEFT

Five-year sentence possible; incident led to dismissal of many drug cases.

A former Missouri Highway Patrol lab technician could spend five years in
prison after pleading guilty Thursday to a charge that he stole powdered
methamphetamine from a Springfield crime lab last year.

Matthew Barb's theft spurred the Greene County prosecutor's office to
dismiss or decline 284 cases, mostly of first-time offenders but some of
career criminals. In Christian County, the theft led prosecutors to dismiss
nearly 100 tainted drug cases.

Prosecutors will oppose probation for the 31-year-old Ozark man under a plea
agreement.

Even though the theft resulted in alleged criminals going free, it was
Barb's first offense, said Mike Huddleston, an assistant Greene County
prosecutor. Barb faced a maximum of seven years in prison.

"I think it's fair," Huddleston said.

The plea agreement doesn't ask for restitution. It's difficult to know how
much taxpayers lost in law-enforcement staff hours, Huddleston said.

Springfield attorney Dee Wampler, who represents Barb, said the defense will
ask a judge for probation with the understanding that his client would
undergo drug treatment and counseling.

Barb, a married college graduate who works two other jobs now, has already
sought treatment and counseling and has undergone monthly urine tests,
Wampler said. His client is also undergoing treatment for depression.

"He has good family support," Wampler said. Wampler noted that his client
freely admitted his crime to his supervisor and that he fully cooperated
with authorities.

"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."

Barb's theft also led to reforms at Highway Patrol labs. Bill Marbaker,
assistant director of the patrol's six crime labs around the state, has said
the patrol changed hiring practices, including pre-employment polygraphs.

Because of the reforms, "in some small way (Barb's theft) has been
beneficial," Wampler said. 
- ---
MAP posted-by: Josh