Chula Vista

A Chula Vista police officer was sentenced Thursday to two years in state prison for selling chemicals used to illegally make methamphetamine.

Probation was denied for Nathaniel Hines Jr., 33, who has been an officer for seven years.

Hines was indicted May 21 by a county grand jury on 13 counts of possession and sale of ephedrine, a necessary ingredient in making methamphetamine, and grand theft for keeping money taken from drug suspects.

He pleaded guilty Aug. 30 to grand theft and selling ephedrine, and the other counts were dropped.

San Diego Superior Court Judge William Howatt said the crimes were committed for financial gain and were an abuse of public trust.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Bill Collins said the sentence was “a reasonable judgment.”