Jeffery Vincent

Jeffery Vincent, an Arapahoe County Sheriff’s deputy, today was sentenced to a year of probation after being found guilty of driving under the influence and prohibited use of a weapon.

Vincent made a bad decision, Deputy District Attorney Francisco Martinez told the court. Martinez, who prosecuted the case with Chief Deputy Brian Sugioka, asked the court to sentence Vincent to probation.

“Vincent should not allow this case to define him,” Martinez said, “but rather learn from it as he moves forward.”

The incident began Jan. 3, 2017, when a fellow deputy reported that he suspected Vincent, 45, was intoxicated on duty.

Vincent’s assignment that day was to transport inmates from the jail to the courthouse.

A blood test administered about four hours later showed a BAC of 0.081.

An Arapahoe County jury on Jan. 12 found Vincent guilty of driving under the influence and prohibited use of a weapon.

Judge Colleen Clark sentenced Vincent on Feb. 1 to one year of supervised probation. He was fined $600 and ordered to undergo and alcohol evaluation.

Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeffery Vincent today was found guilty of driving under the influence and prohibited use of a weapon.

Vincent, 45, will be sentenced on the misdemeanor counts Feb. 1 at 9:00 a.m.

The incident began Jan. 3, 2017, when a fellow deputy reported that he suspected Vincent was intoxicated on duty.

Vincent’s assignment that day was to transport inmates from the jail to the courthouse.

A blood test administered about four hours later showed a BAC of 0.081.

“No one starts drinking with the idea they are going to strap on a gun … but that’s the problem with alcohol – it affects decision-making,” Chief Deputy District Attorney Brian Sugioka told the jury during closing arguments. “The defendant must be held accountable for that: This is a peace officer accused of being drunk on duty, carrying a weapon while drunk on duty, and transporting an inmate while drunk on duty.”

Sugioka prosecuted the case with Deputy District Attorney Francisco Martinez.

District Attorney George Brauchler followed the case closely.

I want to praise the integrity that the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office showed in reporting and investigating their own,” Brauchler said. “This is what we expect from our law enforcement partners.”