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National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Office of Inspector General
Washington, DC 20546

June 25, 2003

RELEASE 2003-043: FORMER DEPUTY PLEADS GUILTY TO SHUTTLE THEFT

On June 13, 2003, Jeffrey D. Arriola, a former Angelina County Deputy
Sheriff, pled guilty to stealing debris from the space shuttle 
Columbia.  Arriola admitted that while he was helping locate shuttle 
wreckage, he illegally pocketed two small pieces of a straight-back 
type back shell, which is a wiring harness connector on the shuttle.

United States Attorney Matthew D. Orwin praised the cooperative
effort of the Angelina County Sheriff's Office and NASA's Office of
Inspector General, "This investigation centered on the activities of
a law enforcement officer.  A deputy sheriff should know better than
to take a piece of the shuttle.  We expect a high degree of
professionalism and integrity from those sworn to uphold the law and
Arriola failed the test when that moment came."

Since the pieces have a value of less than $1,000 Arriola has pled 
guilty to a misdemeanor.  Arriola resigned his sheriff's deputy 
commission after he was indicted.  He could face a maximum sentence
of one year in jail and a fine of $100,000.

This investigation was conducted by the NASA Office of Inspector 
General and Angelina County Sheriff's Office.  Assistant United
States Attorney John Stevens is prosecuting the case.

For more information on this release, please call Joe Kroener, Acting 
Executive Officer, NASA Office of Inspector General at (202)358-2558.

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