Traverse City Record-Eagle

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May 3, 2010

UPDATED: Deputies charged, plead guilty

By ALEX PIAZZA and BRIAN McGILLIVARY

TRAVERSE CITY — Two Grand Traverse sheriff's deputies who responded to a city police officer's early-morning car crash were charged with a crime today and pleaded guilty in district court.

Deputies Robert William Sillers and Mark Robert Noffke pleaded guilty in 86th District Court to neglecting to perform the duties of a public officer. Their sentencing is scheduled for May 25.

Sillers and Noffke responded to a 3:20 a.m. crash on Feb. 7 in which Joseph Soffredine, an off-duty Traverse City Police officer, missed a curve on Cedar Run Road in Garfield Township and slammed into a string of trees.

Soffredine’s vehicle ignited after he revved his engine in an attempt to escape.

Sillers and Noffke did not administer field sobriety or preliminary breath tests on Soffredine, nor did they cite Soffredine for driving with expired license plates.

“We failed to investigate further because he was a Traverse City police officer,” Sillers said in court today.

George Mertz, the deputies’ lawyer, said they pleaded guilty because they understand they did something wrong.

“They want to take responsibility for this,” Mertz said. “They made one mistake. They’re willing to pay the consequences for that.”

Sheriff’s officials placed Sillers and Noffke on paid administrative leave after they appeared in court. Both face a sheriff’s department due process hearing this week, after which their internal discipline is expected to be handed down.

Mertz said the deputies expect some sort of internal disciplinary action.

Sillers and Noffke reached a plea deal with the Grand Traverse County prosecutor’s office late Friday, and in doing so avoided a potential felony charge of misconduct in office. County Prosecutor Alan Schneider said he’s not trying to make an example of the deputies.

“I’m not into message-sending,” Schneider said. “I’m just trying to do my job.”

Schneider last month charged Soffredine with drunken driving stemming from the incident.

 

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