Sun Advocate, sunad.com
BYLINE: C.J. McMANUS, Sun Advocate associate editor
Carbon County, UT
Former Carbon County Sheriff’s Sgt. Christopher Howard Basso, 38, was sentenced on Monday to 30 days in jail and three years probation for pleading guilty to drug possession and tampering charges stemming from a 2012 incident at the sheriff’s office.
In March 2013, Basso was charged by the Carbon County Attorney’s office with offenses that included burglary, drug possession and tampering with evidence. The probable cause statement provided at that time alleged that Basso was on administrative leave from the Sheriff’s Department in January 2013 when he entered the sheriff’s office and removed methamphetamine and another Schedule I or II drug from the evidence room.
The original charges included third-degree felony burglary, two counts of possession of controlled substance in a drug-free zone, which are both second-degree felonies, and evidence tampering, a Class A misdemeanor.
Basso accepted a plea arrangement in October of last year that reduced two of his charges from felonies to misdemeanors and agreed to plead guilty to one felony count of drug possession and misdemeanor tampering.
On Monday, Seventh District Judge George M. Harmond suspended one zero-to-five year prison sentence and all jail time with the exception of 30 days. Basso was also ordered to pay a $700 fine.
His police officer certification was revoked in September and he has been given until Jan. 17 to turn himself into the County Jail.
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International Association for Property and Evidence
“Law Enforcement Serving the Needs of Law Enforcement”
www.IAPE.org
