Associated Press
BEND, Ore. — A forensic scientist at the Oregon State Police crime labs has admitted stealing hundreds of pills from evidence submitted to the labs over two years.
Nika Larsen, 36, pleaded guilty Monday in U.S. District Court to two counts of charges of obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud and deception, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office says Larsen used her position to steal methamphetamine, morphine and other drugs while processing and overseeing cases. An investigation found Larsen took the pills in Umatilla County between December 2013 and November 2014 and in Deschutes County between November 2014 and September 2015. She began working for the state in 2007.
Larsen, who formerly worked on fingerprint and drug evidence as well as crime scene processing, told Judge Anna J. Brown that she also stole pills the crime lab had purchased to use in their analysis of street drugs.
Oregon State Police launched an investigation in April 2015 after a forensic scientist in the Bend lab found 18 oxycodone pills were missing. Investigators found some pills were missing, partially missing or had been replaced with non-controlled substances — all in cases handled by Larsen.
The prosecution and defense are recommending Larsen receive a 3-year prison sentence when she’s sentenced in December. Her plea agreement also releases Larsen from any potential charges filed by any district attorney in the state, a stipulation added because Larsen’s crimes potentially affected more than 2,500 drug cases statewide.
All pending cases that relied on Larsen’s analysis were dismissed or a continuance was pursued in hopes of retesting evidence.
Larsen told investigators the drugs she took were for personal use only.
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Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com
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