Pubdate: Thu, 04 Aug 2005 Source: Dayton Daily News (OH) Copyright: 2005 Dayton Daily News Contact: http://www.daytondailynews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/120 Author: Lawrence Budd Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption - United States) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) DRUG-FIGHTING DEPUTY GETS PRISON FOR PROBATION VIOLATION LEBANON -- A former Warren County sheriff's deputy specially trained in street drug crime was sentenced on Thursday to six months in prison after being arrested for possession of a pipe used to smoke crack cocaine. Michael E. Moore, 35, of Batavia, had been recognized for his work as school resource officer at the Warren County Career Center in 2002 before returning to patrol duties in Deerfield Twp. The deputy, with special training in street drugs, particularly "understanding and addressing methamphetamine," according to his personnel file, became the subject of an undercover investigation after Hamilton County authorities shut down Interstate 71 on New Year's Eve in 2003. Police found evidence of a methamphetamine laboratory operation in Frederick Purcell's truck. Purcell, 33, of Verona, Ky., told police that Moore gave him a handcuff key and special mask used in meth lab investigations. Purcell also told authorities he'd just left Moore after selling him meth at a condominium complex in southern Warren County where Moore and his family lived at reduced rent in exchange for his service as security manager for the complex. Instead, Purcell said, Moore gave him the security code to gates into the Mallard Crossing complex, where they used and produced the highly addictive stimulant in offices and storage garages. Moore was suspended, then indicted in January 2004 on theft in office and multiple drug charges. He was fired in March. Moore's trial in June ended with the jury deadlocked on most of the charges. In November, Judge Neal Bronson sentenced Moore to 88 days in jail for illegal possession of drugs and theft in office as part of a plea agreement reached after Moore secured his disability pension. According to court records, Moore tested positive for cocaine and failed to complete an outpatient treatment program in May and was arrested in July for permitting drug abuse and possession of drug paraphernalia in Hamilton County after being found with a pipe used to smoke cocaine. Moore also admitted driving another man into downtown Cincinnati to buy drugs, according to court records. Moore waived his right to a lawyer on Thursday before pleading guilty to the probation violation, according to records. With credit for 103 days served in jail, he will be free in 73 days, but he faces up to three years on parole after his release. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin