Probation officer pleads guilty
By Argus Observer Staff Reports
Friday, January 2, 2009 8:29 AM PST
VALE — A Malheur County Community Corrections probation officer arrested in late October during an investigation by the Malheur County Sheriff’s Office and High Desert Task Force pleaded guilty to one count of official misconduct, a misdemeanor, in a Malheur County courtroom Tuesday afternoon.
Sydnie Maglaughlin, 36, Nyssa, is slated to go through a drug and alcohol evaluation and must relinquish her Department of Public Safety license, which means she will not be able to work in any law enforcement capacity.
The Malheur County District Attorney’s Office is also seeking a 30-day jail sentence.
Maglaughlin was arrested Oct. 30 pertaining to charges of possession of a controlled substance, third-degree theft and third-degree official misconduct, according to a Malheur County Sheriff’s Office press release from October.
Malheur County Sheriff Andy Bentz said at the time, an investigation of Maglaughlin began following a report to the sheriff’s office specifically about her and her position for community corrections, which is where the official misconduct charges originated.
“The information came to us that there were irregularities and inconsistencies noticed and the possibility of prescription items missing,” Bentz said in October. Malheur County Deputy District Attorney Erin Landis said Wednesday her sentencing will occur sometime in February though he did not have an exact date as of yet.
He said the issue was complicated by the fact Maglaughlin knows both Malheur County judges because of her work as a probation officer. Her plea hearing Tuesday was overseen by Umatilla County Circuit Court Judge Garry L. Reynolds.
Landis said a visiting judge will oversee her sentence proceedings as a precaution against bias.
“Anytime a judge has worked extensively with someone, they will recuse themselves,” Landis said.
Jennifer wrote on Jan 17, 2009 8:25 PM: