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Officer accused in drug theft makes court appearance

Freedom Communications, Inc., The Daily News, jdnews.com
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New Bern, NC

New Bern police Officer Frances Sutton appeared in Craven County District Court Thursday morning in connection with the theft of the prescription painkiller Oxycodone from the department's evidence room.

Represented by attorney Marcus Chesnutt, Sutton was silent as the charges were read before Judge Cheryl Spencer.

Sutton, 49, of Dover, a nine-year veteran who worked in the drug unit for three years and currently serves as a field training officer, was charged with four felony counts of obstruction of justice and three felony counts of altering, destroying or stealing evidence of criminal conduct.

She faces a maximum of 10-12 months per charge for obstruction; 20-25 months per offense for the theft allegations.

Sutton surrendered voluntarily to SBI agents Wednesday night, according to a news release issued jointly by the New Bern Police Department and the District Attorney’s Office.

Warrants for her arrest filed by the SBI indicate she obstructed justice in connection with the theft from the evidence room of 20 pills on May 20, 2010 and 117 pills on Jan. 13, 2012 in two prescription fraud cases. She's also accused of obstructing justice by failing to log the seizure of 25 pills in a Realo Pharmacy larceny case on Dec. 9, 2010 and removing evidence from locker no. 8 on Feb. 26, 2012.

Sutton was released from the Craven County Jail after posting $35,000 bail, officials said. She has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the case.

New Bern Police Chief Toussaint Summers conducted an internal review and discovered evidence missing in cases in which Sutton was the charging officer.

Summers reported his findings to District Attorney Scott Thomas, who requested an SBI investigation. The investigation was initiated May 16 and resulted in Sutton’s arrest and charges Wednesday.

“We are saddened by this news,” Summers said in a prepared statement released Wednesday night. “But just as we are committed to policing our community, we must also police ourselves. And we will not tolerate unlawful activity in our neighborhoods or in our department.”

“Law enforcement officers are expected to uphold and enforce the law, not violate it,” Thomas said in the statement. “Ms. Sutton is charged based on the findings of the investigation at this point. We will continue to look for any other illegal activity.”

Thomas said the investigation is ongoing and further details won’t be released at this time.

Sutton earned her law enforcement degree from Craven Community College. Her next court date is June 14.

After the brief hearing, former New Bern police officer Laura Penninger, an 11-year veteran, said she and Sutton were life friends. She said the charges are absolutely false.

“No basis at all,” she said.

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International Association for Property and Evidence
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