Chattanooga Times Free Press, timesfreepress.com
BYLINE: Kendi Anderson

Trenton, GA


Shawn Chapa Photo by WRCB-TV Channel 3 / Chattanooga Times Free Press

Former Trenton, Ga., police officer Shawn Dewey Chapa pleaded guilty Wednesday morning to violation of oath by a police officer and one count of theft.

Chapa was accused of sneaking into the evidence room and stealing hydrocodone, oxycodone and other pills while employed by the police department. He was charged with four counts of theft, but pleaded guilty only to one.

Chapa's attorney, Public Defender David Dunn, said other three other charges of theft will be dismissed because of his plea.

Chapa will be sentenced on Oct. 31. Dunn would not comment on what sentence might be imposed.

Because Chapa stole the drugs while serving as a police officer, he could face up to 15 years in prison.

Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney Herbert "Buzz" Franklin did not prosecute Chapa's case. Instead, Leigh Patterson, the prosecutor from the Rome Judicial Circuit, presented evidence to the grand jury.

Franklin did not prosecute the case because of a potential conflict of interest, since Chapa worked as a police officer within his district.

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