2 Officers Plead Not Guilty in Illegal Records Access
Two Los Angeles police officers have pleaded not guilty to charges of illegally accessing criminal records from the department’s computer databank for personal use, authorities said.
Scott Rate, 29, was charged with two counts and Marc Pooler, 32, with three counts of unlawful computer access, said Sandi Gibbons, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles district attorney’s office.
The officers, who worked out of the North Hollywood station, are on leave without pay pending the outcome of department disciplinary hearings.
Retrieving criminal records for personal reasons is illegal, said Bill Seki, the deputy district attorney handling the case. He would not reveal why the officers retrieved the information or whether it was used.
Both officers were released on their own recognizance. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 5.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
