Former Almont officer convicted in steroids case
Former Almont officer convicted in steroids case, By: James L. Smith
Friday, April 07, 2006
PONTIAC - A former Almont police officer has been convicted in Oakland County Circuit Court of two felony drug counts involving possession and delivery of controlled steroids.
Craig Brown, 38, of Addison Township previously was convicted on a neglect-of-duty charge in Lapeer County. At the same time, he was acquitted on possession and delivery of steroids in Lapeer County.
On Thursday, Brown was found guilty in Oakland County of possession with intent to deliver steroids, which carries a maximum 7-year prison sentence, and an additional charge of possession of steroids, a 2-year felony
Judge John McDonald ordered Brown taken into custody, but set bond at $500 for his release pending a May 8 sentencing.
Witnesses at the trial included law enforcement officers from Lapeer County.
In his closing argument, assistant prosecutor Jeffrey Kaelin tied Brown to the purchase of 20,000 mg of the steroids found during a 2003 raid on a Lakeville post office box rented by Brown.
After the search at the post office, investigators raided Brown's Addison Township home, seizing a computer and hard drive with evidence that indicated plans to distribute the steroids to others.
The trial was delayed nearly two years while Brown unsuccessfully appealed his 2004 misdemeanor conviction in Lapeer County, Kaelin said. Brown served a 6-month jail sentence in the Lapeer case. He was also fined $1,800.
A former Capac police officer who also was fired and charged in the drug probe, testified that Brown supplied him with steroids.
"Prosecuting a police officer is not anyone's favorite thing," Kaelin said. "No one likes a crooked cop."
Almont Police Chief Eugene Bruns, who was on hand for the verdict, fired Brown in July 2003.
