Collins, 36, of Negaunee was sentenced to one year of probation.

“Former officer Collins was sentenced to a 12-months deferred sentence under the public health code, which means it’s a nonpublic, private record,” said Marquette County Prosecuting Attorney Matt Wiese. “As long as he’s successful, that will remain the case. He will ultimately not have a record. He pled to a one-year misdemeanor of possession of a controlled substance and he pled guilty.”

The conditions of Collins’ probation include but are not limited to: no controlled substances or alcohol and submitting to drug screenings upon request, Wiese said.

At a previous court date, he entered a plea agreement which resulted in lesser charges.

NEAVES

Collins pleaded guilty to one count of controlled substance use schedules 1, 2, 3 or 4 except narcotics, which carries a maximum one-year penalty in prison.

His second charge — one count of using a computer to commit a crime — was dropped.

A future court date has not yet been set for Richard Joseph Neaves, the other former law enforcement officer arrested on similar charges.

Neaves, 31, of Marquette and Collins were each arraigned in Marquette County’s 96th District Court in early December on two-count felony warrants issued by the Marquette County Prosecutor’s Office. He was also formerly employed with the Marquette City Police.

Count 1 was conspiracy to commit controlled substance-delivery/manufacture, schedules 1, 2, 3 except marihuana, methamphetamine, ecstasy and cocaine, which is punishable by up to seven years in prison and/or $20,000 fine and a $10,000 additional fine.

The second count was using a computer to commit a crime, which carries a maximum sentence of four to 10 years.

Neaves’ case was bound over to the 25th Circuit Court after his preliminary examination was waived.

Charges of larceny in a building and possession of a burglar’s tool are also being brought against Neaves for a separate incident that occurred during his time as a law enforcement officer.

While employed at the Negaunee Police Department, Neaves was caught breaking into and taking prescription medications from the prescription drug take-back box in the lobby of the police department on several occasions, officials said.

Neaves admitted his guilt of these actions during the criminal investigation, incident report documents obtained from the Marquette County Prosecutor’s Office by The Mining Journal through a Freedom of Information Act request state.

The criminal investigation into the larceny from the prescription drug take-back box led to an additional investigation into the former officer’s selling and use of anabolic steroids.

Trinity Carey can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 206.