UPDATE: Seattle police officer Rob Marlow pleaded guilty Monday morning to drug possession and computer trespassing, both gross misdemeanors.
A judge sentenced him to 30 days of recommended work crew and a class on stopping sexual exploitation. He did not get jail time.
Marlow cried in court, saying he was an alcoholic, but that he’d been sober for the past year.
ORIGINAL TEXT:
A longtime Seattle police officer has been charged with illegal drug possession in connection with a strip-club dancer and computer trespass for providing confidential crime victim information to a local TV news anchor.
The charges were filed last month against 47-year-old Robert "Bobby" Marlow after an investigation by Seattle police detectives and the FBI's Public Corruption Squad.
Marlow came under investigation as a result of a probe of the Dancing Bare strip club in North Seattle.
Court documents say Marlow was romantically involved with a dancer and shared drugs with her.
Police arrested the dancer for selling heroin and prostitution. She told investigators she used drugs with her boyfriend, Marlow.
According to charging documents, police searched the couple's Greenwood apartment last March and found MDMA , Molly and traces of cocaine.
When detectives questioned Marlow, they took his badge and gun. They also took his cellphone.
On that phone they found he'd been taking pictures of victim information off the SPD computer and sending it to Q13 anchor David Rose.
The information came from a restricted police department database.
Rose told investigators he then contacted those victims about stories.
Q13 issued a statement about the officer leaking victim identification. "Q13 News relies on our sources in law enforcement to help inform our audience about crimes going on in our area and we use this information carefully and responsibly," wrote News Director Erica Hill.
Marlow's lawyer, Nelson Lee, says Marlow plans to plead guilty to gross misdemeanors under amended charges next week.
Lee issued the following statement Wednesday afternoon.
"Mr. Marlow deeply regrets his actions and intends to take responsibility for his behavior. Before the criminal investigation was completed, Mr. Marlow took it upon himself to enter into inpatient treatment. He has successfully completed all treatment recommendations. Mr. Marlow is committed to maintaining his sobriety. He apologizes for violating the public's trust in him and for disappointing his fellow officers."
Marlow is on paid administrative leave and has been since he was first questioned in March 2016. The charges were filed last month.
SPD told KIRO 7 the internal investigation is on hold until the criminal case is completed.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Cox Media Group
