Could Face 10 Years In Prison If Convicted

The TSA screener accused of stealing iPads from passenger's luggage at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport has been indicted on charges of theft by a public servant. If convicted, Clayton Keith Dovel of Bedford, TX, could face as many as 10 years in prison.

Dovel is accused of taking the popular tablet devices from passenger's luggage over an eight-month period, according to a report in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Authorities recovered eight of the tablets from Dovel, including one in his possession at the time of his arrest.

Dovel was caught when a passenger used Apple's tracking software to locate his iPad2, which had turned up missing on January 24th. The device was tracked by authorities to a house Dovel owned. At the time of his arrest, he said he could not remember where he bought the iPad they found in his possession.

TSA says the incident is isolated, and that they have a zero-tolerance policy on employee theft. Dovel is free on $5,000 bond and has been placed on indefinite suspension from his job with TSA.

FMI: www.tsa.gov