Pubdate: Fri, 30 Jan 2004
Source: Robesonian, The (Lumberton, NC)
Copyright: 2004 The Robesonian
Contact:  http://www.robesonian.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1548
Author: Matt Elofson
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption - United States)

EX-OFFICER ACCEPTS DEAL IN EXHANGE FOR TESTIMONY

LUMBERTON - A former Lumberton police officer has pled guilty to providing 
state and federal law enforcement agents with fictitious information during 
an investigation, according to court records. The plea is part of an 
arrangement in which James Jordan will testify against a Lumberton police 
officer.

Jordan, 40, who resigned as a Lumberton policeman in May 2003, pled guilty 
to the misdemeanor of resisting a public officer in Robeson County District 
Court on Jan. 14.

District Attorney Johnson Britt said Jordan's sentence was continued 
indefinitely, because he is tied to a bigger investigation.

"He is to be a witness against Leon Oxendine when he is charged," Britt said.

Oxendine is being investigated by federal and state agents for allegedly 
planting evidence, Britt said.

Britt said Jordan was charged with giving fictitious information to State 
Bureau of Investigation Agent Mark Francisco and FBI Agent Harold Schmidle. 
At the time, the agents were investigating allegations of corruption in the 
Lumberton Police Department.

During that investigation, an indictment was handed down in September 
charging a police and sheriff's informant, who was acting at the direction 
of Oxendine, of planting evidence.

According to the indictment, Scott LaClaire, 34, planted a computer disc 
that contained an image of a counterfeit $100 bill at 11 Albion St. in 
Lumberton. As a result of that computer disc, James Todd Adams was arrested 
and charged with felony drug charges.

Jordan was among the officers who searched the house, Britt said.

Jordan, who has since moved to Miami, worked as a Lumberton police officer 
since 1999. He resigned on May 6, 2003.

Oxendine, a lieutenant, has been on paid administrative leave from the 
Lumberton Police Department since Jan. 21, 2003. He has been with the 
department since November 1978 and was in charge of the selective 
enforcement team that targeted drug and violent crimes.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom