Detective Sentenced for Efforts to Aid Stalker
A Los Angeles police detective who illegally accessed an LAPD computer in an effort to intimidate witnesses in the stalking trial of her former boyfriend was sentenced to five years’ probation Friday, authorities said.
Det. Connie Howell, 41, was also ordered to complete 400 hours of community service and undergo psychological counseling, said Victoria Pipkin, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.
Howell was arrested in January after she tried to intimidate witnesses in the trial of her felon boyfriend, Gorgon Acker, who was later convicted of stalking.
On Friday, Howell pleaded no contest to unauthorized computer access and to stalking--a felony.
She remains on unpaid leave from her job as a detective at LAPD’s Central Division, but her status may soon change.
“It’s a firing offense to have a felony conviction,” said Don Cox, an LAPD spokesman.
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