Dr. Richard Jetter was given a one year conditional discharge, forced to pay a one thousand dollar fine, and must perform 250 hours of community service after he lied to police about damage he caused to his own car that he originally blamed on vandalism.
Jetter publicly apologized in court to his family, friends, and community members. His attorney, argued that Jetter was remorseful and took responsibility for his actions, pleading guilty 2 months after he hit a pole with his car and blamed the damage on vandals.
The District Attorney's office blamed Jetter for the entire ordeal and pushed for the maximum sentence of jail time in this case. The judge disagreed.
7 Eyewitness News asked Jetter's attorney Terrence Connors if jail was ever a realistic possibility in this case.
"I don't see how anyone could possibly harbor that prospect. It would make absolutely no sense and would be contrary to every philosophy, every theory of punishment," Connors said.
"This jerk basically held a press conference in a parking lot trying to portray himself as a martyr. Yeah, that aggravates me. Does it aggravate me as much as armed robbery or rape or murder? No of course not," DA Frank Sedita said.
Jetter plead guilty to the one misdemeanor count in this case, but the District Attorney said if the case had gone to trial, Jetter would have faced a felony and potentially time in state prison.
Jetter also revealed in court that he is continuing rehabilitation treatment. He will keep his educational licenses, but still faces discipline from the Office of Professional Discipline and the State Department of Education.
