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Former Buchtel Police Chief Pleads Guilty To Permitting Drug Abuse
< < Back to former-buchtel-police-chief-pleads-guilty-permitting-drug-abuseBuchtel's former chief of police pleaded guilty Thursday to permitting drug abuse.
Kelsie Lanning was sentenced to three years of community control.
He was also ordered to surrender his police officer certificate and serve 80 hours of community service.
Keller Blackburn, Athens County prosecutor, said being a law enforcement officer is no excuse for illegal activity.
"The ultimate thing here is that he's no longer going to be a cop. You cant break the law and be a cop," said Blackburn. "He was convicted of a felony and as long as I'm the county prosecutor, police officers who commit felonies are going to be convicted of felonies."
The former police chief was arrested in February after being accused of participating in a drug transaction.
Sheriff's deputies said he purchased prescription medication from an undercover agent at a Nelsonville home.