An Anchorage Superior Court judge said Friday a two-year prison sentence was appropriate for a former state crime lab analyst -- who stole drugs from his workplace for nearly eight years -- in order to deter other public servants from abusing their powers.
"The lab's reputation has been sullied by my ignorant behavior," said Stephen Palmer, 54.
"Nothing's ever going to be the same," he said. "I only hope that I can do what I can to make this right."
The state accused Palmer in March 2014 of stealing drug evidence and drug samples from the Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory in Anchorage while he worked there. He added adulterants to the drug samples to try and cover up the thefts, prosecutors said.
Samples that Palmer stole are known as reference standards, which the crime lab compares to suspected drugs seized by law enforcement.
Palmer worked at the crime lab from 1992 until 2011 and for six of those years he used heroin and methamphetamine every day, charging documents say. He resigned in December 2011 "for no apparent reason," the charges say.
Palmer pleaded guilty in January to five charges: second-degree theft, tampering with physical evidence, two counts of fourth-degree misconduct with illegal drugs and official misconduct. The official misconduct misdemeanor charge means Palmer used his government position to commit a crime.
The state argued Friday against the defense's proposal that Superior Court Judge Michael Spaan impose a suspended sentence -- essentially no time in prison unless Palmer exhibits future criminal behavior.
Palmer lived a double life, said chief assistant attorney general Rob Henderson. One life was that of a sophisticated forensic scientist who was continually stealing from the lab while the other was a home life in which none of his close family, friends or colleagues knew of his addiction, the prosecutor said.
"His violation of public trust was not isolated," Henderson said. "It was continual, and it went on for nearly eight years."
"We as a community, we as a (criminal justice) system are very lucky that Mr. Palmer's actions have not affected the scientific validity of his work."
Judge Spaan disagreed. Both parties wrote in court documents that Palmer's thefts haven't tainted other criminal cases, Spaan said. However, the judge noted that he has yet to see input from any of the state's higher courts.
"Well, the delay in cases we've had," the judge said. "The cost of litigation ... we will have. There is an impact."
Henderson also said the drug thefts involved "deep planning." Palmer used his knowledge of the lab to steal the drugs on a daily basis, he said.
Defense attorney Greg Parvin argued his client's methods were less sophisticated.
"That's not what happened. His job was to take drugs, analyze them, dispose of what wasn't used and send the rest away. It wasn't this grand plan."
Palmer's criminal activity ended five years ago, Parvin said. He tried to privately overcome his addictions before his family sent him to drug rehab Outside.
The defense presented three character witnesses, including Palmer's son Craig, who works at Goose Creek Correctional Center as a corrections officer.
Craig Palmer said his grand jury testimony against his father has been portrayed as him "getting even" with his father for something. He said that's not the case.
"I was being honest and truthful," Craig Palmer said. "That's how he raised me. That's what he told me to do through this whole ordeal."
Judge Spaan granted a request by the defense to delay Palmer's incarceration. According to testimony, Palmer will apply for electronic monitoring or house arrest.
Henderson said the Alaska Department of Corrections would decide whether to approve electronic monitoring as well as the portion of the sentence Palmer could serve while on it.
Better policies have been instituted at the crime lab, aimed at preventing future drug thefts, lab manager Orin Dym said in a prepared statement.
"I want the people of the State of Alaska to know that I -- as well as the balance of the senior management of the Department of Public Safety, and the staff of the crime laboratory -- am committed to having our laboratory continue to be a model of quality forensics," Dym said.