St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s corrections deputy Christopher Wayne Spencer ended up charged and fired for using a department fuel card to gas up his personal vehicle, Sheriff Bobby Guidroz reported.
Spencer, 23, of the 1800 block of La. 3043, Opelousas, has been charged with theft, 13 counts of unauthorized use of an access card and attempted unauthorized use of an access card, Guidroz stated.
An investigation began on Aug. 14 when it was determined by detectives that the fuel card had been improperly used on a non-department vehicle during the months of July and August, a total of 13 transactions were made at a local fuel station.
Spencer was attempting to fuel up his personal vehicle using a flagged card and the transaction was denied on Aug. 13.
A St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office administrator was advised of the failed transaction electronically and deputies were dispatched to the fueling station to determine who was attempting to use the card.
Guidroz stated that on Aug. 18 Spencer admitted to detectives that he acquired the fuel card while he was on duty at the St. Landry Parish Jail and placed it in his pocket. At the end of his shift, he stored the fuel card in his personal vehicle. During the course of a 41-day time period, Christopher Spencer admitted to using the card numerous times to fuel his personal vehicle without the permission and consent of the Sheriff’s Office, Guidroz stated.
“This was very troubling to me that one of my own would steal from the taxpayers and my office. I am the steward of your taxes and if it takes me arresting one of my own for theft, I will. Checks and balances are conducted by my supervisors who noticed the transactions did not coincide with our department units and mileage. The card was then flagged and the investigation was opened,” Guidroz stated.