DRUG AGENT FACES NEW CHARGES

Courts: The San Juan Capistrano man is accused of stealing 650 pounds of
cocaine from an evidence locker.

Los Angeles-A state drug agent facing federal drug-dealing charges was
indicted Thursday on additional charges of stealing 650 pounds of cocaine
from an evidence locker, prosecutors said.

The new charges were brought against Richard Wayne Parker, 43, of San Juan
Capistrano, a state Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement agent set to go on trial
this month for allegedly supplying cocaine to two street dealers.

Authorities say the 10-year drug agent dealt drugs from April 1996 until his
arrest in July.

"Parker faked a break-in of the BNE Riverside office evidence vault, leaving
behind alligator clips on the alarm pad and pry marks on the vault doors so
that the burglary would look like it had been committed by thieves who did
not have the alarm codes and access keys," the indictment states.

Federal agents who searched Parker's home and vehicles say they found nearly
$600,000 in cash. Investigators also say they discovered that Parker had a
mistress, a home and a dozen cars of which his wife had no knowledge.

Parker's wife, Diane, a former Orange County sheriff's deputy, faces assault
charges for allegedly punching her husband's mistress, who was present
during one of Parker's bail hearings.

Parker, whose jurisdiction included Orange County and the city of Riverside,
has pleaded not guilty. His trial is scheduled for Nov. 17.

Checked-by: Don Beck