[MA] When Officer Westervelt held a gun to his wife's head

...Judge William C. Mulford II sentenced Officer Westervelt to two years in prison, but suspended the entire sentence...

Officer convicted of assaulting wife
Capital Gazette
November 08, 2007
ANNAPOLIS — A Denton police officer charged with holding a gun to his wife’s head reached an agreement with county prosecutors last week, avoiding jail time for a January assault in his home but ending his career in law enforcement. Ronald Kent Westervelt Jr -- entered an Alford plea Nov. 2 in the county’s Circuit Court in Annapolis to second-degree assault. An Alford plea allows a defendant to maintain his innocence, while admitting that prosecutors have enough evidence to convict him. It carries all the consequences of a guilty plea. Judge William C. Mulford II sentenced Officer Westervelt to two years in prison, but suspended the entire sentence and placed him on five years probation. Officer Westervelt must report to a probation agent for the first year of the probation. A prosecutor said the conviction prevents Officer Westervelt from carrying a gun in Maryland and effectively ends his career. Officer Westervelt was arrested Jan. 2 after his son called 911 saying his father was attacking his mother in their basement. His son recanted the story at a September trial and his wife refused to testify. The September jury deliberated for more than six hours before deadlocking 8-4 in favor of acquittal.