Four Montgomery County police officers charged in a double-dipping scandal are expected to plead guilty in Circuit Court this week.
As many as 15 officers were discovered to have been working for Grady Management, a Silver Spring real estate company, while they were also performing their official police duties. Grady officials complained about an officer, starting an investigation by State’s Attorney John McCarthy this spring. Several officers had been working for Grady for as many as five years and earned tens of thousands of dollars, according to court documents.
Officer Christopher Garland is expected to plead guilty to one county of felony theft at the court at 1:30 p.m. today. Garland has agreed to resign and pay $29,572 in restitution to Grady. On Wednesday, Officer Victor Valerio is also expected to plead guilty to one count of felony theft. Valerio, whose resignation is part of his plea agreement, will pay $29,572 to Grady, according to court documents. Neither of the men nor their lawyers could be reached for comment.
Two other officers, Kyle Cochran and Michael Spells, will plead guilty to one count each of misconduct in office Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. Cochran will pay $9,793 in restitution; Spells will pay $8,168, according to court documents.
An additional two officers, Donald Carr and James Pirtle, are expected to plead guilty to one count each of misconduct in office next week.
The scandal will cost the department at least 15 officers, spokeswoman Lucille Baur said.
This week’s charges follow grand jury indictments against two officers,Scotty Arnold and James Redd, announced Oct. 4 by McCarthy. The men were charged with theft and misconduct in office. Two other officers, Zeno Brown and Lorneal Boykin, pleaded guilty that day to charges of misconduct in office.
Five other officers involved in the case, who have not been named, resigned. Charges have not been filed against the officers, and police officials would not name them, citing personal reasons.
