Before she was sentenced, Samantha Peterson stood up in court before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White, and read an apology to everyone the community she said she was once proud to serve, her former department, and her family. I have let you all down and I'm sorry, Peterson said, her voice shaking at times. She added, This was out of character behavior to meI have lost everything, my home career, reputation and purpose and rightfully so.
White told Peterson he was deviating from his standard for cases involving public corruption or police misconduct by not sentencing Peterson to jail, but explained that, you're probably the last person that I can think of who would commit another crime. But there is an element of general deterrenceif you're a police officer, you have a higher duty, White said, perhaps a harbinger of what is to come for Peterson's former peers who may come before him to be sentenced next.
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