Tampabay: Prosecutor borrowed money from workers

Prosecutor borrowed money from workers

His workers say they have known Harry Lee Coe for years and think nothing

By SUE CARLTON

TAMPA -- With his six-figure salary and hefty pension, Hillsborough State Attorney Harry Lee Coe might not seem like a man in need of financial help.

But last year, the county's top prosecutor borrowed $5,000 and $7,000 from two of his own employees for reasons he only will say were "personal."

Coe, who is up for re-election in November, said Monday that he wasn't concerned about the propriety of taking money from two people who depended on him for their paychecks, Human Resources Director Deanna Easterling and his then-Chief Investigator Bill Stevens.

"They're lifelong friends," said Coe, 68. "I don't see them as underlings."

But other state attorneys say that beyond borrowing a few bucks for lunch and repaying it the next day, they have never considered asking employees for loans.

"It's certainly not an arm's-length transaction," said Polk County State Attorney Jerry Hill, who said he doesn't like that an employee could feel pressured.

Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney Bernie McCabe said borrowing a substantial sum also could leave an employer open to criticism that an employee was getting favorable treatment in the office because he loaned the boss money.

"I just go to the bank when I need to borrow money," McCabe said.

In January 1999, Coe borrowed $5,000 from Easterling, who had been his secretary for about 16 years when he was a judge. Her daughter also worked as a prosecutor for Coe.

Easterling said Coe paid her back last month. That was after Steve Andrews, an investigative reporter for WFLA-Ch. 8, began making inquiries about the loans.

Easterling said she did not feel pressured into lending Coe the money.

"The reason I loaned it to him is because I've known him for so many years," she said.

Coe didn't tell her why he wanted the money and she didn't ask, Easterling said.

"You know Judge Coe," she said. "He's very private that way."

Stevens, a former Tampa police officer who retired from Coe's office last week at age 62, could not be reached for comment Monday. Coe borrowed $7,000 from Stevens about the same time as he got money from Easterling. Coe said that debt also has been repaid.

Though Coe said Monday he is not having financial trouble, he has had difficulties in the past.

Bank records showed he withdrew thousands of dollars from ATM machines at or near dog tracks in St. Petersburg and Tampa in the 1980s. When those records came to light, Coe said he had stopped gambling.

In 1991, Coe had to borrow $1,000 from friends to pay his taxes.

As state attorney, Coe makes $130,575 annually. His state pension brings that figure up to $216,502.

Coe, who is so intensely private that he will not disclose where he lives, said Monday that the money was not spent at the dog track. He no longer goes there, he said. The $12,000 he borrowed was for "just personal matters," he said.

"If I thought it was improper, I wouldn't do it."

Coe faces two Republican challengers, Mark Ober and Bill Jennings, in a November election.

- Sue Carlton can be reached at (813) 226-3346 or by e-mail at carlton@sptimes.com.