Posted on 08/16/2018 6:23:24 AM PDT by BBell
A former St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office deputy pleaded guilty Wednesday to stealing drugs during traffic stops and giving them to his girlfriend.
Kenneth Szalajeski, 36, of Folsom, faced two counts of malfeasance and two counts of distribution of marijuana in connection with incidents in May and October 2016.
He was sentenced to five years in prison, with four years suspended, on both malfeasance counts, and 10 years, with nine years suspended, on the distribution counts. The sentences will be served concurrently, effectively giving Szalajeski one year of jail time, followed by three years of probation.
He faced up to five years on the malfeasance charges and up to 30 years on the distribution charges.
"I have always believed that Szalajeski committed wrongdoing and Im pleased that justice has been served, Sheriff Randy Smith said in a statement.
Smith also said that "at all times, the sheriff assisted and cooperated fully with the district attorneys investigation that ultimately led to Szalajeskis indictment."
That claim is disputed by a whistleblower lawsuit filed by former Chief Deputy Fred Oswald. Oswald, who was former Sheriff Jack Strain's No. 2, remained in that position when Smith became sheriff in July 2016.
(Excerpt) Read more at theadvocate.com ...
dirty cops should go right into general population, with double the sentence
“good” cops who shield bad cops should be convicted with them.
Prohibition is worse than the drug (see Amendments XVIII and XXI)
The only solution I do have is to legalize weed.
No cop ever gave ME pot, which I chalk up to the overall injustice of this world.
Sheriff Marge Gunderson "...traces it back to Jerry Lundegaard's lot. I'm a police officer from up Brainerd, she tells him, investigating some malfeasance."
I love that movie.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.