The State - News from April 19, 1985

An Oakland judge put two former county coroner’s officials on probation for three years for stealing from the dead. Superior Court Judge Martin Pulich, calling their actions deplorable, sentenced John Rhone, 53, and William Devine, 50, on convictions of grand theft and stealing public funds. The district attorney’s office had planted funds in the homes and safe deposit boxes of deceased people. Officials testified at the defendants’ trial a year ago that the money was found in the possession of the two men. The judge ordered Rhone and Devine to return to court June 19 to decide whether they should be fined and whether they should be allowed on work-furlough programs or jailed while on probation.