Champion officer loses credentials
Gets probation for misuse of state computer network
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WARREN -- A longtime Champion officer was ordered Tuesday to give up his police credentials and serve two years of probation, following his conviction on 16 felony counts of unauthorized use of a state computer network specifically used for criminal investigations.
Robert Koehler, 62, a 34-year veteran of the Champion Police Department, appeared with his attorney Gary Rich for sentencing before Trumbull County Common Pleas Judge Andrew D. Logan. The judge, in addition to the probation, sentenced Koehler to 100 hours of community service.
The judge admonished Koehler for violating his "position of trust" and said he still has a prison sentence hanging over him if he doesn't abide by the terms of probation.
The judge also ordered Koehler must forfeit his Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy certification.
"You lost what was important to you, and that is your career as a police officer," Logan told Koehler.
Koehler, who pleaded guilty to the charges last September, had served as acting Champion police chief for three months in 2017. He also was previously the police chief in West Farmington and Craig Beach.
A Trumbull County grand jury handed up an indictment last year against Koehler for using the Ohio Attorney General's computer program called Ohio Law Enforcement Gateway for personal use.
According to the indictment, he used the OHLEG equipment for personal reasons multiple times from 2015 through 2017. He was charged with 16 counts of unauthorized use of property, computer, cable or telecommunication property or service.
Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Becker said Koehler was using the police crime computer to check backgrounds for job applicants for his side security job.
Champion police Chief Jeffrey White turned over the information to the Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Investigation shortly after he was contacted by the AG's office about the potential misuse.
Since the indictment, Koehler had been suspended from police work.
Defense attorney Gary Rich said he has known Koehler for about 40 years, and Rich termed the offense "a foolish act."
Koehler declined to speak prior to sentencing.