Former Malden police officer found guilty of attempted stealing

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A former Malden police officer, Frankie J. Goins, 36, was recently convicted by a Stoddard County jury of attempted felony stealing during a trial that occurred March 25.

According to information provided by Dunklin County Prosecuting Attorney Stephen P. Sokoloff, the trial was held in Bloomfield on a change of venue from Dunklin County.

"The jury of nine men and three women took approximately one and a half hours to find Goins guilty," Sokoloff said of the decision.

"After deliberation, the jury recommended the imposition of fine, with the amount to be determined by the court."

The maximum fine for the offense, according to Sokoloff, is $5,000.

Goins was charged with trying to steal $1,000, which was money that had been turned over to him by an 18-year-old Malden man who had received information that the money may have been the product of an Internet scam.

Officers from the Missouri State Highway Patrol Division of Drug and Crime Control participated in the investigation of the case.

Goins was represented by Stephen Walsh and Dan Moore of the Moore, Walsh, and Albright firm in Poplar Bluff, Mo.

The state was represented by Sokoloff, and assistant prosecutor, Jonce B. Chidister.

According to court records, the jury's verdict for "no imprisonment, but a fine in an amount to be determined by the Court", was accepted by the court with a hearing upon motion for new trial set at 10 a.m., May 7, and sentencing, if appropriate.