PHILADELPHIA – A former Philadelphia police officer honored by the White House before a downward spiral that left him in custody on $60 million bail has been sentenced to probation.
Richard DeCoatsworth was sentenced Monday for assaulting a live-in girlfriend after he was cleared of a string of felony charges.
DeCoatsworth had sat with first lady Michelle Obama at the 2009 State of the Union address after he was shot in the face chasing a suspect. His lawyers have said he became addicted to painkillers and heroin afterward.
DeCoatsworth had been charged with raping prostitutes at gunpoint.
The Philadelphia Inquirer (http://goo.gl/c6SBeZ) reports a judge Monday ordered him to undergo counseling and serve 18 months of probation.
A defense lawyer says the 28-year-old hopes to work at an animal shelter in Florida.
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Information from: The Philadelphia Inquirer, http://www.inquirer.com
