Pubdate: Sat, 05 Oct 2002
Source: Oklahoman, The (OK)
Copyright: 2002 The Oklahoma Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.oklahoman.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/318
Author: Diana Baldwin, The Oklahoman
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

TRIAL DECISION DELAYED ON DRUG TEST CHARGES

An Oklahoma County judge delayed a decision Friday on whether two people 
will go to trial on racketeering charges of preparing fake exhibits for 
drug court. Special Judge Carol Hubbard said she will decide Tuesday if 
there is enough evidence against Joe Clay Bouldin, 48, of Oklahoma City, 
and Joy Lynn Lippe, 32, of Yukon.

Bouldin, director of Bulldog Laboratory, is accused in the racketeering 
charge of falsifying 25 urine analysis reports used as court exhibits 
between May 12, 2000, and Oct. 18, 2001.

Bouldin and Lippe, a laboratory counselor, are named together in the 
racketeering charge with another 46 allegations of falsifying exhibits in 
2000 between May 22 and Aug. 22.

Five witnesses testified Friday and Sept. 6 during a preliminary hearing 
conducted by Hubbard.

Assistant District Attorney Stephen Alcorn said, "Bulldog Laboratory 
systematically used its position in drug testing to subvert the judicial 
process both in drug court and in child custody hearings.

"They used the leverage they had over these individuals for their own gain, 
both financial gain and sexual gain, and for procurement of drugs. What is 
very disturbing about this case, this isn't just a case that affects the 
drug court system," Alcorn said.

"Bulldog labs also did pre-employment screening for transportation 
companies, nursing homes, nursing services, temporary employment agencies. 
All of those tests are played into question, but we are focusing into drug 
court because these are things we can prove that was falsely presented to 
the court to make their decision on."

Beau Williams, Bouldin's attorney, declined to comment Friday after the 
hearing.

Robert Manchester, Lippe's attorney, claims she is innocent of racketeering 
despite her name and initials appearing on some of the false reports.

"We are not questioning that there were improper tests that were submitted 
various places," Manchester said. "I'm not saying who did it. I'm saying 
who didn't do it for sure and that is Joy Lippe.

"Where her name is, is not where the inaccuracies are. She was doing that 
as a administrative function. She was not the one doing the tests." 
Oklahoma City police Detective Roland Benavides testified Sept. 6 he bought 
fake urine analysis reports from Bouldin after an informant introduced him 
to the laboratory director.

The detective said he told Bouldin he had been arrested for drug 
trafficking and needed a report for drug court.

Benavides said he paid $100 for the first test Oct. 18.

On Oct. 25, Benavides said, he paid $60 for his second negative analysis 
report without providing a urine sample.

Bouldin sold the detective a third clean report Nov. 1, Benavides said.

"The following week when I asked him (Bouldin), he said he got word the 
police were looking at him," Benavides said. "I pleaded with him to help me 
more, but he pleaded with me."
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