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Sheriff’s son pleads guilty to deception
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Thomas Altiere Jr., 32, of Royal Troon Drive in Warren, right, stands in the courtroom of Judge Andrew Logan of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court with his attorney, Gary Rich. Altiere, son of Sheriff Thomas Altiere, pleaded guilty Tuesday to deception to obtain a dangerous drug for using deception to obtain prescriptions for Hydrocodone, a pain medication, from multiple doctors and multiple pharmacies earlier this year. The Trumbull County Adult Probation Department will determine whether Altiere qualifies for a program that would allow him to receive drug treatment in lieu of conviction on the charge.
By Ed Runyan
WARREN
Thomas R. Altiere Jr., 32, of Royal Troon Drive Southeast, pleaded guilty Tuesday to deception to obtain a dangerous drug.
Altiere, son of Trumbull County Sheriff Thomas Altiere, was using deception to obtain prescriptions from multiple doctors and multiple pharmacies, said David Joyce, Geauga County prosecutor, who served as special prosecutor on the case.
The felony charge carries a penalty of up to 18 months in prison, but Altiere is asking to receive treatment in lieu of conviction.
The program allows a defendant to avoid conviction as long as he or she successfully completes treatment. If he follows his treatment, the case could be dismissed in about a year.
If he doesn’t follow the program, he faces conviction and sentencing.
The Trumbull County Adult Probation Department will determine whether Altiere qualifies for the program, Joyce said.
Investigators with the Ohio State Pharmacy Board discovered Altiere’s crime while conducting an unrelated investigation, Joyce said.
While working as a security officer at St. Joseph Health Center, Altiere was leaving his job and obtaining prescriptions and the drug Hydrocodone, a pain medication, Joyce said.
The offense occurred between Jan. 17, 2011, and April 14, 2011, Joyce said.
Altiere entered his plea Tuesday before Judge Andrew Logan to what is called a bill of information. Pleading guilty to a bill of information bypasses grand jury proceedings and an indictment and goes directly to a plea.
Judge Logan set bond at $2,500 personal recognizance, meaning Altiere didn’t have to pay anything.