Pubdate: Tue, 05 Dec 2006
Source: Ledger, The (Lakeland, FL)
Copyright: 2006 The Ledger
Contact:  http://www.theledger.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/795
Author: Dana Willhoit

FORMER POLK DEPUTY PLEADS NO CONTEST TO DRUG CHARGES

Lena Reeves, a former Polk County Sheriff's Office  detention deputy 
who was arrested in November after  allegations that she offered sex 
and money in exchange  for prescription drugs, pleaded no contest to 
one count  of possession of hydrocone, a felony, at her  arraignment today.

Judge Karla Wright withheld adjudication and sentenced  her to three 
years probation and court costs of $373,  and ordered that Reeves be 
evaluated for any an  potential substance abuse problems. Reeves will 
have to  comply with any treatment plan that the evaluator 
recommends, refrain from using drugs, and be subject to  warrantless 
search and seizure during the probation  period.

Reeves, 37, was arrested on one felony charge of  unlawful 
compensation involving official behavior. The  charges stemmed from 
an incident in which she sent a  sheriff's office employee home 
during work hours to get  prescription drugs for Reeves' personal 
use, according  to a sheriff's office press release.

She retired on Oct. 23, several days before she was  arrested. She 
had been with the sheriff's office for 16  years.

Seven other employees retired suddenly in the wake of  the 
investigation, including Maj. Dale C. Tray, a  26-year veteran and 
head of the jail's security  division. Tray told investigators he 
once accepted a  prescription pill from Reeves but didn't swallow it.

No charges are pending against any of the other seven  employees, 
according to Chip Thullbery of the State  Attorney's office.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine