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KSC Worker Accused of Taking Columbia Parts Out on Bond
By Associated Press
posted: 09:10 pm ET
24 April 2003
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Untitled DocumentORLANDO, Fla. (AP) _ A Kennedy Space Center employee accused of stealing debris while helping to recover parts of the space shuttle Columbia was released Thursday on $25,000 bond. Michael Pankiewicz, 44, was arrested Wednesday and charged with embezzling government property, transporting stolen government property and making a false statement to federal investigators, said Carolyn Adams, spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney. She wouldn't say what shuttle part or parts he was accused of taking. Pankiewicz, who is on paid leave from NASA, has worked at the space center for 15 years, spokesman Bruce Buckingham said. U.S. Magistrate Karla Spaulding ordered Pankiewicz to stay away from NASA facilities and military bases, but made an exception for when Pankiewicz needed to fulfill his duties as an Air National Guard reservist. Clarence Counts, Pankiewicz's public defender, would not comment after the hearing. The Columbia broke up Feb. 1 over Texas, killing all seven astronauts. More than 70,000 shuttle parts have been found across more than 2,400 square miles of Texas and Louisiana. At least five people have been charged with illegally keeping shuttle parts. Complete Coverage of the Columbia Disaster
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