Officer Pleads No Contest to Stealing From Suspect

A veteran police sergeant accused of stealing $2,000 from a suspect pleaded no contest Wednesday to a felony charge of grand theft and faces up to three years in prison.

Sgt. James L. Shear, 49, entered the plea in connection to the November incident, and a Los Angeles Superior Court judge ordered him to appear for sentencing June 17. Shear was terminated by the department May 15, officials said.

The money was taken from a sealed envelope inside the car of a man who was being detained by Pasadena police, prosecutors said.

A week after the theft, Shear became distraught at police headquarters after he was linked to the crime and threatened to kill himself with his handgun, police said.

After several hours, senior officers and a psychologist persuaded Shear to seek professional help, police said. Shear was allowed to leave the station after he surrendered his weapon and agreed to check into a medical facility, authorities said. Shear was placed on administrative leave and a criminal investigation was launched.