This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A former Carbon County sergeant pleaded guilty Monday to stealing drugs from work.
Christopher Howard Basso, 37, allegedly broke into the sheriff's office while he was on administrative leave sometime in January; the charging documents allege that he stole methamphetamine.
Basso was charged two months later in 7th District Court with third-degree felony burglary, two second-degree felony counts of possession or use of a controlled substance and one class A misdemeanor count of tampering with evidence.
On Monday, Basso accepted a plea deal that reduced his burglary charge to class B misdemeanor trespassing and one of his possession charges to a class A misdemeanor, said Carbon County Attorney Gene Strate. He also pleaded guilty to felony drug possession and misdemeanor tampering, Strate said; a felony charge carries the possibility of prison time.
Upon further investigation, it appeared that some of the drugs Basso took were from an evidence locker, but some were designated for disposal, Strate said. And while Basso was on administrative leave, there was some question about whether he was prohibited from the building, the attorney said.
Basso is scheduled to be sentenced the morning of Dec. 2.
Carbon County sheriff's Sgt. Ronnie Bogdin previously said Basso was terminated on Feb. 6.
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