The former evidence technician at the Beckley Police Department must spend the next four years on probation after stealing evidence.
Gabriella Brown apologized during her sentencing hearing Monday morning in U.S. District Court in Bluefield.
Brown earlier pleaded guilty to taking several oxycodone pills that were collected as evidence and using them for herself. She admitted her drug addiction.
Brown’s attorneys argued sending her to prison would have created a dangerous situation because of her former position. U.S. District Judge David Faber sentenced her to four years probation.
Compromising of the evidence room last summer resulted in dozens of Raleigh County drug cases being dismissed.