By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
The Crestline police officer accused of soliciting sexual favors in exchange for not writing a traffic citation to a female motorist pleaded guilty, but avoided any jail time Tuesday afternoon.
Thirty-five-year-old Mark Callicoat pleaded guilty in Crawford County Common Pleas Court to falsification, a first-degree misdemeanor that carries a maximum sentence of six months in prison. The agreement with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, which prosecuted the case, stipulated that charges of bribery – a third-degree felony – and dereliction of duty – a second-degree misdemeanor – were dismissed.
Callicoat was sentenced to 90 days in the county jail, which were suspended. He will serve one year on probation and will forfeit his Ohio peace officer training certificate.
“This case has been the subject of a great deal of negotiation,” noted Judge Sean Leuthold.
Callicoat become a full-time probationary officer for the Crestline Police Department in April of 2014. The investigation into Callicoat came on Jan. 26, 2015 when a comment made on Facebook alleging the solicited favors was brought before the Crestline Village Council. Then-mayor Dave Sharrock began an investigation into the department before the matter was passed along to county prosecutor Matt Crall. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification opened its own investigation in the allegations the following month.
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