A former Sapulpa police officer pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court for lying to law enforcement about a theft he committed while on-duty, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
Dennis James Hall, 40, pleaded guilty to making false statements, which is a felony. The plea agreement calls for Hall to serve five years of probation. Further, the defendant will no longer be permitted to serve as a law enforcement officer.
On Oct. 6, 2021, while on-duty as a police officer, Hall was called to a scene where a deceased woman was found in a hotel room. During the on-scene investigation, Hall entered the woman’s hotel room on his own then stole $345 in cash. When the Sapulpa Police Department first learned that a theft may have been committed, they contacted the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) for assistance. Hall was then interviewed by law enforcement and lied about committing the theft despite being confronted with evidence in the case. In his plea agreement, Hall admitted that he lied and made false statements to investigators during the Nov. 15, 2021, interview.
The Sapulpa Police Department, FBI, and OSBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko A. Boulieris is prosecuting the case.