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.