Drug Offender Turned Drug Tester Indicted

Treatment Center Worker Accused Of Letting People On Probation Switch
Urine Samples

In 1991, Casper Wyatt Jr. was sentenced to three years, five months in
prison for growing 37 marijuana plants and breaking gun laws.

In 1994, he got a job monitoring drug testing at a state-funded
substance abuse treatment center.

Monday, a Fayette Circuit grand jury indicted him on five counts of
tampering with urine samples.

Wyatt, 43, apparently let people on probation turn in the urine
of family members instead of their own, said Gayle Carter, director of
the Regional Alternative Sentencing Program.

``They would've been `dirty,' but he allowed them to switch the pee,''
Carter said.

The state's department of corrections is reviewing its $156,723 annual
contract with the private non-profit program, said Carol Czirr, a
spokeswoman for the department.

``This certainly calls the integrity of the program into question,''
she said.

RASP is one of several drug treatment programs at Counseling Center
Inc. on Short Street.

It is responsible for giving counseling to those on probation or out
on parole.

Wyatt resigned from his position of urine technician on Nov. 30, 1999,
the same day Kentucky State Police contacted Carter, who said she was
aware of Wyatt's background when he was hired.

At the time, Wyatt's record included a 1977 conviction for burglary
and the 1991 conviction for marijuana possession and being a felon

with an unregistered gun.

In addition to the five tampering counts, the grand jury Monday added
a sixth for Wyatt being a felony offender.

While a warrant has been issued and a $22,500 bail set, he remained
free last night. Wyatt's attorney, David Bratt of Lexington, said he
hadn't talked with his client enough to give his side of the story.

Carter said she was at a loss for why Wyatt would have helped people
switch urine samples.

There hasn't yet been any evidence that he charged money for switching
the urine, Carter said.

``It was pointless, just pointless,'' she said.