Ex Elizabeth police chief gets no jail time

By EMILY BENNETT DiLULLO
ebennett@yourmvi.com
Elizabeth borough’s former police chief will not spend any time behind bars for stealing heroin from the police department’s evidence room.
Timothy Butler, 43, of Finleyville was sentenced Wednesday to 45 months probation and 325 community service hours by Allegheny County Judge Robert J. Colville.
Butler, who was police chief for four years, pleaded guilty in August to drug possession, theft and obstruction of the administration of law after investigators recovered empty stamp bags of heroin in his office.
Butler, who has been free on bond, completed an outpatient drug program and has since retained two full-time jobs, according to his defense attorney Charles LoPresti.
“Kiss it goodbye,” Colville said after delivering the sentencing, referencing Butler’s heroin usage.
Butler will not have to spend any time in jail or pay any fines for the charges, aside from court costs.
Colville said he took into serious consideration Butler’s zero prior record score, addiction problem and how his status as a former law enforcement officer would put him at risk if he were incarcerated. But, the judge said that factor could not — and did not —play a role in his decision.
“I’m enormously pleased with a period of probation,” LoPresti said following the sentencing. “The breach of trust issue in police matters can cause a judge to do a number of different things. I think he was prepared for any sentence the judge would have given, in hopes that he would be able to support his family.”
Butler spoke very briefly before the judge, and insisted that he would hold himself accountable.
“I just deeply regret all of this,” Butler said. “It will never happen again.”

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