Former police officer accused of theft found dead

KSL Broadcasting Salt Lake City UT, ksl.com
BYLINE: Pat Reavy

Park City, UT

SOUTH SALT LAKE — A former Park City police officer convicted of embezzling money from the department's evidence room and the Fraternal Order of Police was found dead of an apparent suicide Monday, the day he was scheduled to be sentenced in court.

The body of Robert John Lucking, 50, of Heber, was found inside a car in a warehouse at 139 E. 3900 South where Lucking reportedly worked. Lucking was found by a co-worker about 8:15 a.m. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, said South Salt Lake police detective Gary Keller.

In May, Lucking was charged with felonies in 3rd District Court in three separate cases. He was charged with multiple counts of theft or alternative charges of unlawful dealing of property by fiduciary.

Prosecutors believe Lucking had been embezzling money since 2007. He worked in the Park City Police Department's evidence room for seven years until 2012.

As part of a plea agreement in November, Lucking pleaded guilty to theft, a second-degree felony; and failing to keep public money, a third-degree felony, in exchange for the other charges being dismissed.

He was originally scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 16, but the judge agreed to wait until after the holidays. Lucking could have been sentenced to one to 15 years in prison for his second-degree felony. A pre-sentencing report, however, had recommended probation and no prison time.

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