Platteville Police Officer Charged with Drug Crime

MADISON, WI—Stephen P. Sinnott, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that a federal criminal complaint was filed today charging Michelle V. Salentine, 28, Platteville, Wis., with using her residence at 930 Hathaway Street, Platteville, for the purpose of using crack cocaine. Salentine made an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Madison today, and was detained pending her next court appearance.

The criminal complaint alleges that Salentine, a five-year veteran police officer with the Platteville Police Department regularly smoked crack cocaine at her residence, along with an individual who lived with her. According to United States Attorney Sinnott, the Federal Bureau of Investigation executed a search warrant at Salentine's residence on April 26, 2010, and recovered drug paraphernalia, including suspected crack pipes.

If convicted, Salentine faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.

The charge against Salentine is the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Anderson. United States Attorney Sinnott noted that the Platteville Police Department is cooperating fully with the investigation.

You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.