EX-COP GETS 10 YEARS IN IN `DRUG RIP'

An ex-Houston police officer accused of stealing $6,200 in drug money from
two men who were set up by an accomplice was sentenced Wednesday to 10
years in prison.

Roylin Jackson, 33, who worked as an officer for seven years before he was
fired, pleaded no contest to a charge of theft by a public servant.

Visiting state District Judge Robert Jones also fined Jackson $10,000.
Jones said he would consider a motion to free Jackson after six months in
prison and put him on "shock probation."

Prosecutor Donna Goode said that on Sept. 17, 1998, Jackson was working
traffic enforcement on overtime and left that assignment to pull over two
men in the 600 block of Rushcreek in northwest Houston.

He searched both, took their money and let them go, Goode said.

Notified of the incident, police tracked Jackson down by going through the
roster of who was on duty in that area that day.

Apparently, Jackson knew the men would be there because they were sent
there by his accomplice, Ronald Richardson, 33, Goode said.

Richardson -- a probationer with a record that includes drug charges,
credit card abuse and theft -- also worked with Jackson on two other
"drug-rips" in which he and officer allegedly split 75 pounds of marijuana
taken in one heist and $3,500 taken in a third, Goode said.

Richardson cooperated with authorities and was prepared to testify against
Jackson. He previously pleaded guilty to theft and was sentenced to two
years in a state jail.