PROBATION OFFICER INDICTED

A Mississippi Department of Corrections probation officer was arrested
Friday on federal drug and conspiracy charges, officials said.

Kathy L. McDougle, 33, of Ridgeland was indicted by a federal grand
jury Wednesday on one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, three
counts of using a communications facility to commit conspiracy and one
count of extortion, said Bob Garrity, special agent in charge of FBI
operations in Mississippi.

The indictment alleges that McDougle, while working as a probation
officer, provided information to a member of a local drug trafficking
organization, who then passed the information along to a cocaine supplier.

It was not clear what kind of information she passed.

The indictment also charges that McDougle accepted payment from a
probationer for overlooking violations and for helping a parolee
conduct illegal drug trafficking. Each charge is alleged to have
occurred in the Jackson district.

McDougle could not be reached for comment. She was released on $10,000
bond after making an initial court appearance Friday before U.S.
District Judge Magistrate James C. Sumner, said Deborah Madden, FBI
spokeswoman.

A trial has been set for Dec. 6, Madden said.

MDOC officials assisted the FBI during the investigation, which has
been ongoing since May 2002, Garrity said.

Suzanne Singletary, MDOC communication director, said McDougle's
arrest is a personnel matter that the agency could not discuss.
Singletary would not say how long McDougle has been employed by MDOC
or provide information on her current employment status.