Wichita police secretary who leaked classified info pleads guilty after failed diversion
A Wichita Police Department secretary charged with leaking classified information to a family member has pleaded guilty to one count of committing a computer crime. Mia Turner had previously entered into a yearlong diversion agreement that might have resulted in dismissal of the felony charge, but that was revoked after authorities arrested her for driving under the influence last year.
Turner, 51, was criminally charged after a detective listening in on jail phone calls in January 2022 discovered that the longtime police employee gave details about an inmate’s case to to the inmate’s ex-wife while the investigation was still active. Information disclosed to the woman, to whom Turner is related through marriage, included a photo of a confidential police email that discussed what led to the inmate’s arrest, court documents say.
Turner also accessed and watched video crime evidence related to the inmate’s case, although she told detectives she did it only because she was concerned the inmate might “use her name to help him in his case,” according a probable cause affidavit released last year. She told investigators she didn’t recall sharing the email, which contained a confidentiality notice, the affidavit says.
Turner had access to the classified email and other case information in her role as secretary to top officials in the Wichita Police Department. She had worked for the agency for more than 14 years when her misstep came to light. She is also a former Wichita Public Schools board member.
Turner initially entered into a diversion agreement in the case June 2022. But a Sept. 17, 2022, arrest for intoxicated driving and an unsafe lane change shortly before 1 a.m. in the 100 block of East Kellogg led the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office to petition the court to revoke her participation in the program late last year. A judge granted that request on Feb. 8.
Turner pleaded guilty on Tuesday, the same day as a scheduled bench trial in the case, court records show. She is scheduled for sentencing May 26 by Sedgwick County District Judge Tyler Roush.
Wichita Municipal Court records show she was placed on diversion in the DUI case in December. Turner worked for the city of Wichita from Oct. 8, 2007 to May 20, 2022, city spokeswoman Megan Lovely said.
This story was originally published April 13, 2023 at 12:37 PM.
