Colorado Springs – A man who was in charge of a juvenile detention center in Colorado Springs is behind bars himself, facing charges of using state money to buy more than $30,000 worth of equipment for his personal use.
Douglas Lockett, 58, faces charges of theft and embezzlement of public property, according to a 24-page arrest affidavit. He is being held without bond in the Henry County Jail in Georgia and is awaiting extradition to Colorado.
Lockett served as director of the Spring Creek Youth Services Center in Colorado Springs until January, when he became director of the Metro Regional Youth Detention Center in the Atlanta area. Spring Creek detains youths ages 10 to 18.
Lockett used a state-issued credit card and accounts at Spring Creek to purchase items that he indicated were needed for youth programs, the affidavit said.
Detectives found more than 50 of the items at Lockett’s home, including a plasma television, digital cameras, computer equipment, a sewing machine, home theater system and ham radio equipment, the affidavit said.
Charles Garcia, an investigator with the 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, began the investigation in January.
Garcia interviewed Al Estrada, director of the southern region for the Division of Youth Corrections. In the affidavit, Estrada said it was his responsibility to review financial records, and that several purchases “appeared strange.”
Leo Navarro, who had worked as assistant director under Lockett, told Garcia that he became concerned when he noticed a receipt for a phone case for a personal phone used by Lockett.
“Mr. Navarro said there are policies around the use of that money, no matter what account that money is coming out of. He went on to say that money is used for the betterment of the kids, but there is discretion around the use of that money,” the affidavit said.
Staff writer Erin Emery can be reached at 719-522-1360 or eemery@denverpost.com.
