A Texas constable who aided in the search across east Texas for debris from the space shuttle Columbia was arrested by federal agents today for allegedly pocketing some of what he found.
Mr Robert Hagan, 45, a constable in Harrison County, Texas, was charged with theft of US government property for five pieces of space shuttle tile found in a paper bag in his car after he helped in the search, according to the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Texas.
Mr Hagan showed a piece of what he said was debris to a colleague after returning home on February 2nd, according to the US Attorney's office. He claimed he was given permission to keep the items.
If convicted, Mr Hagan could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison and fined $250,000.