Former L.A. Sheriff’s Deputy Convicted

A former Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy was convicted Thursday of felony conspiracy and bribery charges arising from an off-duty incident in which he stopped a motorist and found cocaine in the motorist’s car.

Wayne Desire, 29, who was assigned to the West Hollywood station, was also convicted of three other felonies--possession of a controlled substance, possession of metal knuckles and compounding a felony.

But the Los Angeles Superior Court jury, which began deliberating June 17, acquitted Desire of grand theft of 4.5 ounces of cocaine and extortion in connection with two other alleged incidents.

The prosecution alleged that in November, 1985, Desire and his partner, Scott Graham, solicited and accepted a $500 bribe from a motorist in lieu of making a drug arrest.

The cocaine charge for which Desire was acquitted stemmed from an October, 1985, incident in which the two deputies were accused of taking the illegal drug away from a motorist and dividing it between themselves.

Graham pleaded guilty last December to conspiracy and is serving a two-year prison term.

Desire will be sentenced July 29 and could face six years in prison.