from

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SEATTLE — The Lynnwood deputy police chief accused of taking money that was being held as evidence has pleaded guilty to theft.

The U.S. attorney’s office in Seattle says Paul Christopher Watkins entered the plea Friday in an agreement with prosecutors. The 50-year-old Everett man faces up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced Feb. 22 in federal court.

Prosecutors say Watkins stole between $70,000 and $120,000 in 2002-2005. The money had been seized in police investigations and should have been returned to owners or turned over to the city.

AND FURTHER INFO FROM

 KING5.com Staff

Lynnwood PD deputy chief pleads guilty to theft

SEATTLE – The deputy chief of Lynnwood Police pleaded guilty in federal court Friday to pocketing thousands of dollars that should have been seized during criminal investigations.Paul Christopher Watkins faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced next February.  The government plans to ask the judge to go beyond that range.

He’s the second highest ranking official in the Lynnwood Police Department.

According to the Department of Justice, Watkins admitted that he stole the money while serving as commander of the investigations division between July 2001 and March 2004.

Prosecutors say that money should have gone to the City of Lynnwood or back to its rightful owners.  They plan to argue at sentencing that Watkins stole between $70,000 and $120,000.

Prosecutors say they are concerned Watkins destroyed records about the thefts just hours before a search warrant was issued.

On the night before the raid, FBI agents saw Watkins walk out of his south Everett home with garbage bags full of shredded documents.

“That night they observed him leaving his house carrying large garbage bags,” said Mark Bartlett, Assistant U.S. Attorney.  “They watched him go to various public dumpsters in Lynnwood and dumping this shredded material into dumpsters.”