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.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin