Also See:
Officer Brent Craft arrested for domestic violence and operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
Former cop gets probation, avoids jail
By Scott Hagen
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
http://www.mlive.com/news/jacitpat/index.ssf?/base/news-17/115142440675760.xml&coll=3
A former Jackson police officer got scolded Monday but will avoid jail as long as he completes a rehabilitation program.
District Judge Darryl Mazur told Brent Craft he held a position of authority in law enforcement and should have acted appropriately.
Craft, 32, resigned from the Jackson force April 26, two days after he was arrested on drunken-driving and domestic assault charges.
"One assumes you knew more and knew better," Mazur said.
Craft pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and was placed on probation for 15 months.
Prosecutors dropped the drunken-driving charge as part of a plea agreement. The domestic assault charge is dropped if Craft completes the batterer-intervention program.
On Monday, attorney Sean Carroll told Mazur the arrest had "life-changing effects" on the eight-year police veteran.
Craft apologized to Mazur personally and to the court, saying it was a "one-time mistake."
State troopers found him and his wife parked on a Liberty Township road. Troopers determined there had been a traffic crash that evening and that Craft, who was off duty, had been drinking and was driving. He also was charged for a fight with his wife.
Craft will spend time in the batterer-intervention program, designed to reduce the recurrence of domestic attacks.
He also was ordered not to drink alcohol during probation and must pay $865 in fees.
