OFFICER ACCUSED OF STEALING FROM ANTI-DRUG YOUTH PROGRAM

WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, Vt. (AP) A former police officer assigned to the
town of Windsor's DARE anti-drug program for youths has admitted to
stealing money from the program to pay for personal items.

Scott Eastman, 27, of Weathersfield pleaded no contest to a felony
larceny charge and will be required to repay $488.86 and perform 80
hours of community service work.

Under the terms of a plea agreement, Eastman received a suspended
sentence of up to three years, which he will spend on probation.

According to a state police affidavit, Eastman used the money from the
Windsor Police Department's youth program fund to pay for two personal
pager bills and several catalogue purchases.

Neither Eastman nor his lawyer, Jonathan Springer of Windsor, returned
phone calls. According to court records, Eastman now works for Keene
Medical Products.

The police affidavit says Eastman wrote at least six checks from the
program's account for his personal use in late 1998. Windsor Police
Chief Byron DeMond suspended him from duty in January 1999 and asked
the state police to investigate, according to the affidavit.

Checks from the Youth Program Fund required two signatures DeMond's
and Eastman's. When Eastman used the fund for personal purposes, he
used a check pre-signed by the chief or used the chief's signature
stamp, the affidavit said.

The affidavit also said $410 in municipal parking fees that Eastman
had tallied never made their way to the town administrator's office.

Eastman could have been sentenced to up to 10 years in prison and
fined $1,000.