Former Brimfield Police Chief Found Guilty on All Counts
Former Brimfield Police Chief David Oliver was found guilty of charges of misconduct and sexual harassment in the Portage County Court of Common Pleas on Monday.
Oliver, 48, was charged with, and found guilty of, theft of official property, simple assault, unauthorized restraint, and unauthorized use of property. He waived his right to trial and agreed to submit to the findings of the prosecution. Judge Patton reduced Oliver’s total sentence of 600 days in prison and fine of $1,000 to two years probation, $1,304 in restitution to the police department, and court costs of $121. Oliver will also no longer be allowed to practice law enforcement in the state of Ohio.
When given the opportunity to speak, Oliver said he never had any complaints against him until the collective bargaining contracts of his officers was up for renegotiation and they were asked to take a pay cut. When addressing the charges of simple assault and unauthorized restraint, Oliver stated, “Crystal punched me as much as I punched her.” He also added that, “This whole thing befuddles me.”
Officer Crystal Casterline, when given the opportunity to provide testimony against Oliver before his sentencing, said she had, “no choice but to go public.”Casterline recounted the years’ worth of emotional and physical abuse Oliver inflicted on her, saying that Oliver was a, “manipulative, sadistic sociopath.”
Officer Casterline will also be pursuing an undisclosed amount in damages against Oliver through a pending civil suit in the Stark County Common Pleas Court.
