PIQUA — A former Piqua police officer charged after allegedly driving under the influence on duty pleaded guilty Wednesday to reduced charges and was sentenced in a Miami County court.
Justin Augustine, 38, of Troy, resigned from the department Nov. 1 while an internal investigation was underway into the Oct. 27 incident.
Augustine was charged with felony improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle and misdemeanors of OVI and operating a vehicle without being in reasonable control. He pleaded guilty to failure to maintain physical control and misdemeanor possessing a weapon while intoxicated. Other charges were dismissed.
Visiting Judge Thomas Hanna of Kettering sentenced Augustine in Municipal Court on the physical control charge to a $1,000 fine and 180 days in jail with $700 and all but three day in jail suspended. The remaining three days will be dismissed if he completes a weekend education program.
He was ordered to continue counseling with the Miami County Recovery Council and undergo a mental health evaluation. His drivers license was suspended 40 days back to the date of the offense.
On the weapons charge, Augustine was sentenced to $500 fine and 180 days in jail, both which were suspended.
He was ordered to complete one year of community control.
No restitution was ordered. Piqua Law Director Stacy Wall said insurance would cover damage.
Augustine declined comment in court.
Police reports said he called his supervisor around 7:40 p.m. Oct. 27 to a parking lot off East Ash Street. He found Augustine's cruiser parked with heavy damage and was told by the officer he hit a flat-bed semi with concrete barriers when he pulled in to the lot at the former Board of Education offices.
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