BAIL SET FOR CHP OFFICER ACCUSED OF COCAINE THEFT

Joshua Blackburn, a Six-Year Veteran, Is Accused of Stealing More
Than 40 Kilograms From an Evidence Locker.

The Orange County district attorney's office said Wednesday that
California Highway Patrol Officer Joshua Blackburn could spend more
than 25 years in state prison if he is convicted of stealing more
than 40 kilograms of cocaine valued at $1 million.

Judge Cheryl Leininger set bail at $4 million during Blackburn's
first court appearance Wednesday. She also required Blackburn to show
that any money used to post bail was earned through legitimate sources.

Blackburn attended the hearing by videoconference from Men's Central
Jail wearing a yellow jumpsuit. He hung his head through much of the
proceeding. "This is a very difficult situation," said his attorney,
John D. Barnett.

The judge granted Barnett's request to delay entering a plea until
Jan. 9. Blackburn is accused of stealing the cocaine from an evidence
locker in the Santa Ana office of the Highway Patrol hours before it
was discovered missing Friday. There were signs of forced entry,
authorities said.

Blackburn allegedly sold 86 grams and hid the remainder -- although
all of it was later recovered, prosecutors said.

The Santa Ana police and the district attorney's office investigated
the theft and arrested Blackburn about 24 hour hours after the
cocaine was discovered missing, district attorney spokeswoman Susan
Kang Schroeder said.

Blackburn was not involved when the cocaine was originally seized in
another case, Schroeder said.

Barnett said that Blackburn has worked for the CHP for six years and
is the father of four children. Court records show that he separated
from his wife several years ago.