Former Marana cop takes plea in computer records tampering case

Calvin Ingram was fired in 2009 for illegally searching private info of dozens of people
By Patrick McNamara, The Explorer
Jun. 23, 2010

A former Marana police officer accused of computer tampering and trafficking in stolen identities has accepted a plea agreement that could result in a prison term.

Calvin Ingram, 40, pleaded guilty to four counts of computer tampering on Tuesday, June 15 in the courtroom of Pima County Superior Court Judge Jose Robles. The plea agreement stems from a 27-count indictment issued in 2009.

"Citizens of the county should feel confident that the state doesn't permit law enforcement officers to access personal information for malignant reasons," Assistant Arizona Attorney General Michael Jette said after the hearing.

Ingram could face as much as two years in prison. The judge has the option to sentence Ingram to probation instead of prison. Probation also could include a term of up to one year spent in Pima County Adult Detention Center. In addition, Ingram could face fines of as much as $150,000 with an 84 percent surcharge per felony. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 20.

Ingram worked for the Marana Police Department from 1999 to 2009.

He was fired in September 2009 amid accusations that he had used his access to law enforcement databases on more than 80 occasions to gather the personal data of people outside of his duties as a police officer.

The indictment against Ingram accused him of searching the private information of 25 people, and in some cases trafficking in that information.

All but four of the computer tampering counts were dropped in agreement for Ingram's guilty plea. He also agreed to relinquish his state law enforcement certification and to never again seek work in the field.

Ingram was the subject of several previous investigations.

In August 2009, Ingram was placed on paid leave while the department conducted an investigation into allegations of computer tampering. In a letter outlining the reasons for his termination, Marana Police Chief Terry Tometich also noted that F.B.I. agents conducting surveillance on Ingram followed him as he sped to work in a patrol car with the emergency lights flashing. Investigators determined that Ingram violated department policies in using his emergency equipment for non-emergency purposes.