The Nebraska Attorney General’s Office says a former Scottsbluff Police captain has entered guilty pleas to a pair of Class 2A felony theft charges.
In a news release, the NAGO says the charges were filed directly in Scotts Bluff County District Court Tuesday, at which time Brian Wasson plead to two counts of theft by unlawful taking in excess of $5,000.
Wasson was terminated in early September last year, and in the following month, voluntarily surrendered his law enforcement certification to the Police Standards Advisory Council.
Wasson had admitted that he had been stealing and using fentanyl from the Scottsbluff Police Department evidence room. At the time, Nebraska State Patrol spokesman Cody Thomas confirmed that the agency had started an investigation at the request of the Scottsbluff Police Department.
While an arrest affidavit was not available in public court records, the complaint filed by Nebraska Chief Deputy Attorney General David Bydalek said for both charges, the thefts took place “on or about or between the 5th day of March, 2021, and the 15th day of April, 2023.” One count was for theft of controlled substances with a value in excess of $5,000, and other was for theft of cash in excess of $5,000.
Wasson had been with the department for approximately 25 years, more than 15 of those as Captain.
Appearing before District Court Judge Cindy Volkmer, bond was set at $5,000 with a ten percent provision, Wasson surrendered himself and he was booked into the Scotts Bluff County Detention Center. Volkmer ordered a Type II pre-sentence investigation ahead of his sentencing, which was scheduled for April 23.
Each of the convictions carries a maximum prison term of 20 years, with no minimum.
