MARION, Va. (AP) - A Virginia State Police trooper has been found guilty of falsifying records for drug case evidence that he had destroyed without permission.
The Roanoke Times reports 40-year-old Sgt. Lee Jennings Testerman pleaded not guilty Thursday as part of a deal in which he acknowledged there was enough evidence to convict him. The judge suspended Testerman’s 1-year sentence on the condition he avoid future legal trouble.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Mary Pettitt says Testerman accidentally destroyed evidence and falsified court records to hide his mistake. Testerman was in charge of a property room and was given permission to destroy evidence in one drug case against a man, but accidentally destroyed evidence in a different drug case against the man.
Police spokeswoman Corinne Geller says Testerman remains on administrative leave pending an interval review.
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Information from: The Roanoke Times, http://www.roanoke.com
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