Eugene, Ore. – Today former Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Captain Scott Beard was sentenced to 60 months in prison and three years of supervision upon release in U.S District Court in Eugene. Beard pled guilty on May 23, 2016 to two counts of Theft, and two counts of money laundering arising from a series of crimes that occurred while he was employed at the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office.
During the sentencing phase the U.S. Probation Services prepared a pre-sentence report for the court listing the details of the crime, Beard’s background, and the impact of the crimes.
Sheriff L. Shane Nelson and Crook County District Attorney Daina Vitolins made statements to the court today. Both testified to the impacts on the citizens of Deschutes County, as well as, the Central Oregon law enforcement community.
Beard’s lawyer asked for a sentence of probation to allow Beard to continue with treatment, be with his family and to work to pay restitution. The U.S. Attorney’s Office requested a 60 months sentence, an upward departure from the federal sentencing guideline, based on violation of public trust by a law enforcement officer.
Judge Michael McShane sentenced Beard to 60 months saying that he found the 63 thefts, gave Beard plenty of opportunity to reflect-on and change his behavior. Judge McShane stated that Beard’s actions as a law enforcement officer in a position of trust violated that trust and negatively impacted the law enforcement profession.
Judge McShane revoked Beard’s release and he was immediately taken into custody from the court.
Beard’s crimes came to the attention of Sheriff’s Command and business staff after Sheriff Nelson ordered his staff to follow more specific recommendations received from the county auditor in July 2015.
In September 2015 an internal audit found discrepancies in accounting records in the audit of County funds intended as use in drug investigations. Beard was placed on administrative leave after the discovery of the discrepancies.
Sheriff Nelson contacted the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office for assistance in investigating after the audit discovered the discrepancies. Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Command and business staff assisted FBI and IRS investigators in compiling and analyzing Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office business records and determined that Beard committed a series of thefts spanning a period from approximately April 2014 to September 2015.
The investigation revealed that Beard forged signatures and fraudulently altered documents to make it appear that funds and evidence were properly accounted for and lied to Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement personnel to conceal his crimes. Beard stole money designated for use in drug investigations and stole money and property seized in drug investigations. The total of the thefts is approximately $205,000.
The United States Attorney’s Office indicted Beard in February 2016 for two counts of Theft Concerning Program Receiving Federal Funds, two counts of Money Laundering, one count of Passport Fraud, and two forfeiture allegations.
The investigation indicates that no other Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office staff acted with Beard in committing these crimes.
“Thank you to the FBI, IRS and U.S. Attorney’s Office for their hard work and effort in investigating and prosecuting this case, and also my thanks to my Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office co-workers whose diligence in the audit brought these crimes to the attention of the Command Staff at the Sheriff’s Office,” stated Sheriff Nelson.
Sheriff Nelson concluded saying, “I am relieved that he is being held accountable for stealing taxpayer money and violating the trust of our citizens. The system worked. I thank the citizens of Deschutes County for their continued support of our office. I am happy for the citizens and the employees of the sheriff’s office that we now have closure in this matter.”
