A former Captain for the Scottsbluff Police Department has been sentenced to prison.
Earlier this year, Brian Wasson pleaded guilty to two, Class 2A Felony charges of Theft by Unlawful Taking. Court records say that he stole at least $7,000 cash as well as fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine from the Scottsbluff Police Department evidence room.
His attorney, Maren Chaloupka, argued during sentencing that Wasson suffered a broken back while on duty in 2002 following a foot pursuit. That led to a pain-killer prescription and subsequent addiction that consumed Wasson ever sense.
Nebraska Assistant Attorney General Michael Guinan did agree that it was unfortunate that Wasson succumbed to addiction. However his thefts from the department that he was nearly top-cop to tarnished the badge for him and his colleagues.
Wasson says he just celebrated one year of sobriety last week, and continues to put in the work in a 12 step program and making amends.
District Judge Cindy Volkmer took all of the testimony from Tuesday’s sentencing, but said that a term less than imprisonment would be an injustice. She sentenced Wasson to a total of 40 to 68 months in prison with the Nebraska Department of Corrections as well as $7,000 in restitution.
