Kingsville task force officer convicted of stealing seized drug funds

When Governor Rick Perry eliminated funding for Texas' regional drug task forces two years ago, we heard a string of complaints continuing to this day that his action was in response to "one bad apple" in Tulia, and that others made positive contributions. Ironically, though, two years after their demise, Texas drug task forces still are generating some of Texas' most eye-popping law enforcement scandals.

In Kingsville, drug task force officer Jose Ibarra was convicted for stealing $46,000 from seized drug monies betweein 2004 and 2006, when the task force closed its doors, reported the Corpus Christi Caller Times ("Ex-drug task force officer will pay back funds," April 4):

As part of a plea agreement, a judge sentenced Ibarra to 10 years probation and 250 hours of community service. He also was ordered to make monthly payments for the next nine years to pay off about $55,000. That figure includes the funds he embezzled from the Kingsville Specialized Crimes and Narcotics Task Force and the cost of an audit.

Though it's definitely on the light side, I'm personally fine with that sentence - restitution is a more important outcome, and likely a more severe punishment, than a short incarceration stint. But it's sure not a typical outcome for second degree felony theft; there are a lot of people doing time in Texas prisons today for stealing a lot less than Officer Ibarra.

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