FARMINGTON – A Franklin County Sheriff’s Department deputy pleaded guilty to a charge of driving to endanger today in Franklin County Superior Court.
Deputy Christopher M. Chase, 34, was stopped on the old Route 2 in East Wilton by Wilton Police Department Officer Joshua King on Nov. 21, 2008. King spoke to Chase and then placed him under arrest on the charge of operating a vehicle while under the influence, a Class D misdemeanor.
Chase was off-duty and on vacation at the time of the stop.
Today in court, the operating under the influence charge was dismissed with Chase pleading guilty to driving to endanger, a less serious Class E misdemeanor. Assistant Attorney General David Fisher said that the incident in question was not considered especially serious compared to many others the state deals with.
“This was minor, erratic operation,” Fisher said. “No accidents or anything.”
In an agreed upon sentence, Chase will have to pay a $575 fine and lose his license for 30 days. Justice Michaela Murphy intends to recommend to the Secretary of State’s Office that Chase’s loss of license be concurrent to a past loss of license that began on Feb. 9 and ended yesterday.
Chase’s future as a deputy remains in the hands of the Criminal Justice Academy. Since the incident, Chase has been on administrative leave from the sheriff’s department pending the result of his case. In Maine, all law enforcement officers convicted of a criminal offense are reviewed by the academy to determine if their licenses to work in law enforcement should remain active.
That process is an administrative one.
Chase has been with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department for three years and is one of three deputies with the department who work with trained police dogs. Chase got his law enforcement start with the Farmington Police Department and then was hired to serve as a deputy for the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Department. While there, he was shot in the chest when responding to a domestic violence complaint. A protective vest is believed to have saved his life.
Why the preferential treatment? Apparently there are two standards, one for the boys in blue and one for the common folk. I didn’t get a driving to endanger and I could walk when I was pulled over. Hypocrisy at its best.
Poor reporting here. The favoritism is even worse. See the Sun Journal article on this. He refused a breathalyzer. His license was suspended for 275 days for refusing the test. That suspension began Feb 9 and was rescinded on Thur because Officer King didn’t show up for a hearing. Way to go Officer King.
Do you think maybe Officer King was INSTRUCTED not to show up?? Just a thought!