Sheriff: Intern tried to sell case files

[unhappycamper]

Prosecutor: Someone copied, removed files
Documents were related to investigation


Sheriff: Intern tried to sell case files
By Kevin Maurer - The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Aug 15, 2008 18:26:38 EDT

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — An intern at a North Carolina district attorney’s office was arrested Friday after investigators said he offered to sell confidential documents in a high-profile case of a slain pregnant Marine for an “astronomical” fee to an undercover agent.

Robert Paul Sharpe, 33, of Jacksonville was charged with embezzlement and misdemeanor larceny for taking files in the murder case against Marine Cpl. Cesar Laurean, who is accused of killing Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach and burying her burned body in his backyard.

Sharpe is accused of taking investigative files, law enforcement reports and other written and electronic documents while working in the office of Onslow County District Attorney Dewey Hudson.

Sheriff Joe Brown said Sharpe offered the documents to a sheriff’s deputy posing as a reporter for a news magazine and asked for an astronomical amount of money. He declined to specify the dollar amount.

Sharpe was arrested Friday at about 2 a.m. outside Hudson’s office with about a dozen expandable brown folders and several CDs, investigators said. Sheriff’s office deputies searched his car and house but didn’t find additional copies of the file. He began his internship in May.


Rest of article at: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/08/marine_lauterbach_theft_081508/