EX-OFFICER PLEADS GUILTY TO STEALING

MUSKOGEE -- A former Muskogee police officer pleaded guilty Friday to
stealing more than $30,000 from his department's fund for undercover
drug bust operations.

Joseph Randolph entered his blind plea to a felony embezzlement count
in front of District Judge Mike Norman. The blind plea meant that
Randolph had made no plea bargain with Muskogee County
prosecutors.

He will be sentenced by Norman on July 28.

"The only statement he gave was `I took money out of the evidence
locker,' " Assistant District Attorney David Pierce said.

The amount of money, investigators believe, was $30,378 taken over a
period of time and from different accounts. Some of the funds used
were reserved for undercover-unit equipment and some was from
seizures, Pierce said.

Although the District Attorney's Office has made no penalty
recommendation, state guidelines say Randolph could serve up to five
years in prison and pay $3,000 in fines as well as
restitution.

The city of Muskogee has been negotiating with Randolph and his
attorney, Orville Loge, on possible methods of restitution. One
possibility, Pierce said, was paying the city back money from
Randolph's retirement account.

Loge previously has stated his client planned to make restitution.
Sending Randolph to prison, however, would make that payback
impossible, he said.

Randolph was a 20-year police veteran and former member of Muskogee's
special investigations unit. He was charged last year with the
embezzlement count.

Randolph was arrested after leaving Muskogee for Wisconsin.