Felony conviction in double-dipping case

It's called double dipping - taking pay for two shifts at once, or working a private security job while the police officer should be working on campus. It's not the social mistake of reaching for another dip after taking a bite.

Robert Sanchez, a former Austin Community College Police Department lieutenant, was convicted March 10 of a third-degree felony theft of service for working off-campus jobs while on

the clock.

Sanchez was sentenced to one year of probation. He faced up to ten years in prison. ACCPD patrol officers Lewis Reese and Albert Olguin were acquitted after the accusations arose in 2005.

The two acquitted officers were assigned to Riverside Campus before their termination. Sanchez was assigned duty at Highland Business Center and worked as the lieutenant for Riverside, Eastview and AISD's Akins campus.

Both Sanchez and Olguin worked for ACC for over 10 years. It is unclear how long Sanchez had been double dipping..

Examples of common crimes prosecuted under theft of service include leaving a restaurant without paying. Double dipping by on-duty police, however, is a more serious matter and often ends the law enforcement careers of those convicted.

Prosecutor Beverly Matthews said that the defendants said former chief Paul Williams, who resigned, granted permission to the officers to work the jobs, and that they made up any missed hours at ACC.