Constable Robert Hagan Ll Term Paper

arrest and charge of Constable Robert Hagan regarding the stolen pieces of the shuttle. The writer explores several aspects of the case including what he is charged with doing and what his possible punishments might be. There were three sources used to complete this paper.

For society to function properly it must be able to place the utmost trust in those it chooses to protect and to serve its members. The ability to trust police officers and others who are charged with leading the moral path is essential to the continued growth and development of the nation. When a trusted official breaks the law it sends shock waves through society. Constable Robert Hagan II has been charged with stealing from the United States government. His case has made national news because he is a trusted elected official and as such expected to hold himself to a higher standard than the average resident. His case is being watched closely by media and laymen alike as he goes through the process he was supposed to help implement and uphold.

WHAT HAPPENED

Constable Robert Hagan II has been charged with theft of United States property with a value of more than $1,000. When the shuttle came down it was anybody's guess how the pieces would land or what area they would cover in the window of entry. The law enforcement officials throughout the area were alerted to be on the lookout and to take action if pieces landed within their jurisdiction (Debris, 2003).The government arrested the Constable charging that he took debris away from the landing scene. Hagan testified later that he never intended to keep the pieces of debris (Debris, 2003). According to Hagan he always intended to return the pieces but got sidetracked before he got the chance to do so (Debris, 2003).

Harrison County Constable Robert Hagan II, who was among volunteers who gathered debris after the shuttle broke apart over Texas on Feb. 1, is standing trial on a charge of stealing government property (Debris, 2003)."

Hagan stated that he had the debris in his squad car with the permission of his supervisor and that he was never told to not touch it or not to move it.

There was so much out there," Hagan said. "We were having to make the best decisions we could (Debris, 2003)."

He also acknowledged that he lied to sheriff's officials when he denied having any material, but did so because he didn't believe it was any of their business (Debris, 2003)."

Hagan, who is an elected law enforcement official, faces serious consequences for taking the materials. A guilty verdict for this charge can carry up to ten years in a federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000(Debris, 2003).

Hagan was released on a $5,000 bond. There are several theories of law that can be applied to this case. One of the….....