Embattled former Brimfield Police Chief David Oliver—known for his viral Facebook posts—pleaded no contest to attempted theft in office, simple assault, unlawful restraint and unauthorized use of property Monday.
Judge Laurie Pittman sentenced Oliver to two years of probation and ordered that he surrender his police certificate, meaning that he can no longer be a police officer in the state of Ohio. He was also fined $300.
In addition to the fine, Oliver was ordered to pay $1,304 in restitution and $121 in court costs.
This comes almost one year after a lawsuit was filed against Oliver, accusing him of “pervert[ing] his role as chief of police” and subjecting Officer Crystal Casterline, a female co-worker, to “unwanted touching of a sexual nature.”
In court on Monday afternoon, Officer Casterline stood before the judge and said she was subjected to sexual harassment from Oliver on nearly a daily basis. She explained it started withe uncomfortable hugs and got worse.
"The hugs escalated to groping, humping me, tracking me places and forcing me into positions where he would press his body into mine," she said.
Oliver said he remains "befuddled" by the claims and believes officers came after him because they hated his management style and were angry about being asked to take pay cuts.
He said two days after Casterline's name appeared on a layoff list, he got a notice of a hostile work environment.
Still, he agreed to the plea deal, in part, because he didn't want to risk going to trial.
"I wasn't sure that a jury would believe one sole prior police officer over three or four who were going to testify and had written statements who have an agenda," he said.
Casterline told the court she did not support the plea agreement.
"I think David Oliver should be held to a higher standard because of his position, not given a get out of jail free card because of it," she said.
Oliver suggested he will continue to present his side of the story by releasing other details about the police department and its officers.
"I'm going to do exactly what I did today and then I'm going to start releasing stuff that will make the public, and particularly the residents of Brimfield, very ashamed of their police department."
The Ohio Attorney General's Office handle the criminal investigation surrounding the former chief.
Last January, Oliver submitted a letter of resignation, saying he was leaving the department because of medical reasons. At the time of his departure he was serving a two-week suspension for violating a township policy.
He became popular nationwide for his funny—and frank—Facebook page, where criminals were called "mopes" and he could be counted on to write opinionated posts daily.
He also wrote a book, released last year, called "No Mopes Allowed."
Officer Casterline has filed a civil lawsuit against Oliver. The case in pending in Stark County Common Pleas Court.
A status hearing with attorneys is scheduled on Tuesday before Judge John Haas.
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