PROBATION OFFICER CONFESSES TO DRUG USE

BLOOMINGTON -- A McLean County probation officer charged with
possession of cocaine and official misconduct confessed to using the
drug in her office at the Law and Justice Center, prosecutors said today.

[Name redacted], 35, was arrested Tuesday after Bloomington police
detectives, who had search warrants, found cocaine residue in her
trash, home, car and office, First Assistant State's Attorney Kim
Campbell said.

Roxanne Castleman, director of court services, said she was shocked
after hearing in court that Hart admitted to taking cocaine at the
county's adult probation office.

"It is a shock. It's not something anyone was aware of," Castleman
said, adding that anyone with their own private office could do the
same thing unbeknownst to their co-workers. "It's a shame, but it can
happen anywhere."

[Name redacted], who has worked as a probation officer for the county
since 2001, appeared in court today after spending the night at the
county jail. She gave family members a thumbs up before a judge set
her bond at $1,000 cash.

The LeRoy woman is charged with possession of a controlled substance,
possession of drug paraphernalia and official misconduct.

She was released from jail shortly after today's hearing and ordered
to seek treatment for substance abuse.

[Name redacted] was charged with official misconduct because she used
cocaine in her office at the Law and Justice Center, court records
showed. Police charged her with possession of drug paraphernalia
because they found a crack pipe during their search, according to
court documents.

[Name redacted] was put on paid administrative leave after she was
arrested Tuesday morning as she drove to work. Castleman said a
decision regarding [Name redacted]'s future employment with the
county had not been made as of today.

Castleman said [Name redacted] did not work directly with people on
probation. Her main job duty was to scan local arrest records to see
if anyone on active probation had been arrested. [Name redacted]
would then refer any arrests to other probation officers to revoke
the defendant's probation.

Bloomington police began investigating [Name redacted] after the
department received information in September about her possibly using
drugs. An investigation led to the search warrants used Tuesday to
search her home and office.

[Name redacted] is scheduled to return to court Dec. 16 to be
arraigned on the drug charges. Bloomington attorney Leann Hill is
representing her and would not comment on the case following
Wednesday's bond hearing.