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Maryland Corrections Lieutenant indicted in overtime theft scheme

Jail
Posted at 10:21 AM, Oct 14, 2020
and last updated 2020-10-14 10:27:53-04

BALTIMORE — A Lieutenant with Maryland's Department of Corrections has been indicted for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars in overtime pay.

Brent Spooner, of Severn, faces 32 counts of theft and misconduct in office.

Since July of 2019, prosecutors say Spooner would falsely claim approximately 80 hours of overtime each pay period.

He would indicate that he was working in one of the guard towers at one of two nearby Maryland correctional facilities.

As a supervisor, Spooner didn't have to clock in or out and was able to avoid filing routine paperwork, normally associated with overtime.

When investigators got wind of Spooner's illegal activity, they began putting him under surveillance.

It was then, Spooner was seen at home, running errands, and walking his dog, while claiming he'd been working instead.

In total, Spooner's accused of stealing approximately $74,000.

“Lt. Spooner stole taxpayer dollars by falsely claiming a large amount of overtime,” said Maryland Attorney General Frosh. “When state employees lie about the hours they work, they are stealing from the honest, hardworking public servants and the taxpayers whom they serve.”

Spooner's case will be heard in Anne Arundel County.