Cop makes plea deal in domestic assault case

A Springfield police officer has pleaded guilty to two charges he violated court-imposed conditions when he repeatedly tried to contact his estranged wife after he was charged with domestic violence.

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Cop makes plea deal in domestic assault case
By Susan Smallheer Herald Staff - Published: January 10, 2008

SPRINGFIELD — A Springfield police officer has pleaded guilty to two charges he violated court-imposed conditions when he repeatedly tried to contact his estranged wife after he was charged with domestic violence.

William Daniels, 36, received two three-to-six-month suspended jail sentences and was ordered to complete the state-sponsored batterer intervention program. Daniels will remain on probation for a year.

The underlying charge of domestic assault was dismissed as part of a plea agreement, along with three other charges of violating conditions of release.

Springfield Police Chief Douglas Johnston said Wednesday Daniels was still on desk duty and there was an internal investigation going on about the charges.

"I can't comment, there's a lot going on here that will probably never come out," the chief said. Daniels has been on desk duty since the criminal charges were filed. He's been with the Springfield department for the past 18 months or so.

According to court records, Daniels became angry when his estranged wife started seeing another man last summer. The couple had filed for divorce last winter, but had continued to live together with their young daughter in South Londonderry.

Daniels put his estranged wife in a police hold and threw her cell phone into the woods. According to court records, Daniels called his estranged wife 60 times one night.

Johnston said he had confidence in Daniels as a police officer and once the investigation was completed, he wouldn't have any problem with Daniels handling domestic violence cases despite the criminal charges.

"I don't have any problem with him handling those," the chief said.

Windham County Deputy State's Attorney Ellen Kryger said Wednesday Daniels had "done the right thing" to resolve the charges. She said the domestic violence charge was dropped as part of plea negotiations. She said she evaluated the merits of the case and decided to drop the domestic violence charge.

Daniels and his estranged wife were living together in South Londonderry at the time of the incident, and police arrested both of them on charges of domestic assault. But Kryger, who heads the domestic violence unit in the Windham County State's Attorney's office, said the office reviewed both cases and only brought charges against Daniels.

"We look at who was the dominant aggressor," she said.

She said Daniels, a police officer, received the same treatment as any person charged with domestic violence and violating conditions of release. "Absolutely," she said.

Kryger said she had no idea whether Daniels would handle domestic violence cases in the future.

She said as a condition of his sentence for violating the conditions of his release, he agreed to participate in a batterers intervention program.

She said each county had its own program and she said a private therapist in Brattleboro ran the program.

The Springfield chief said there was no disciplinary action against another Springfield police officer, Sgt. William Frank, who refused to provide a report to the Vermont State Police investigating officer about what he knew about the incident. Johnston said the State Police could have subpoenaed Frank if they needed his information. http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008801100352