BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- A former Indiana State Trooper arrested for drunk boating reached a plea agreement in which he was sentenced to time served.
Justin Butler was arrested June 6, 2015 on Lake Monroe for operating a motorboat while intoxicated.
He served seven hours in the Monroe County jail, according to jail staff.
Butler joined Indiana State Police in 2006 and resigned his position at the Bloomington Post after his arrest, effective September 2, 2015.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Butler refused a chemical test, but failed a field sobriety test.
DNR conservation officers noted Butler had slurred speech, blood shot eyes, and could smell alcohol on Butler’s breath.
Butler pleaded guilty, as part of a plea agreement, to a charge of disorderly conduct.
Deputy prosecuting attorney Bill Miller said Butler was originally charged with operating a boat while intoxicated, which is a class C misdemeanor, and plead guilty to a more serious charge of disorderly conduct, a class B misdemeanor.
“We changed it primarily due to the absence of a blood alcohol test,” said Miller. “Disorderly conduct is normally eligible for pretrial diversion but we did not do that here.”
Miller also said most misdemeanor cases are resolved by negotiated plea agreements, and that cases involving serious injuries or death are far more likely to go to trial.
Monroe Circuit Court Judge Marc Kellams approved the plea agreement.
Judge Kellams has faced scrutiny over the John Enochs’ case, in which Kellams entered Enochs’ battery conviction as a misdemeanor, even though Enochs plead guilty to a felony charge.
Kellams has not responded to inquiries from Call 6 Investigates.
Holiday weekends are of increased concernfor officers when it comes to drinking and boating.
Over the 2015 Fourth of July weekend, DNR conservation officers issued 202 tickets and warnings, and made eight boating under the influence arrests.
A Call 6 analysis of boating accident reports showed Lake Monroe was the Indiana body of water that had the most incidents involving boating injuries or fatalities.
Call 6 Investigates was unable to reach Butler's attorney Friday.
