Madeline Buckley

madeline.buckley@indystar.com

Former Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer Nikolas Layton could barely get the words out at times, as he cried through a statement to the court in which he apologized to his family, police officers and the people of Marion County.

Layton, the son of Marion County Sheriff John Layton, will serve a five-year sentence for dealing cocaine, a judge ruled Tuesday morning. Marion Superior Court Judge Shatrese Flowers did not send Layton to prison. Rather, he will be in custody of the Marion County Community Corrections home detention program for three years. That means he can live at home and go to work, but he will be monitored by a GPS device.

He will spend the remaining two years on probation, Flowers ordered.

"I used drugs as a temporary way to take away sadness," Layton told the court, through tears. But he added: "I've been clean for nine months and 20 days as of today."

Special Prosecutor Timothy Bookwalter asked for a sentence of five years, the maximum sentence under the plea agreement, arguing that as a 10-year IMPD veteran, Layton, 36, held a position of trust in the community.

Defense attorneys, though, said Layton suffers from depression and a drug addiction for which he is now in treatment. Defense attorney Jim Voyles called Layton a "big, scared young man" who has lived in the shadow of his father, one of the highest-ranking law enforcement officials in Marion County. He turned to drugs when his marriage fell apart in 2014, Layton said.

Bookwalter, though, said of law enforcement and prosecutors across the county: "He made all of our jobs harder."

Flowers agreed that the case was a difficult one. Generally, those who run afoul of the criminal justice system because of addictions or mental health problems are put into treatment, not prison. Yet she said his position as a police officer holds Layton to a higher standard.

Flowers said prison would not be appropriate in this case but said Layton should serve the full five years allowed in the plea agreement.

Layton entered into the plea agreement in August. He admitted to a felony count of conspiracy to deal cocaine, a conviction that carries a prison term of two to 12 years.

Layton resigned from the police department shortly after his arrest in January. Court documents said a confidential informant bought cocaine from Layton and two co-defendants.

His co-defendants, Veronica Purdy, 42, and Christopher Reed, 34, also were sentenced Tuesday. Flowers reduced Purdy's conviction to a misdemeanor and sentenced her to 180 days on probation. Reed was sentenced to five years, serving three on probation, with two years suspended.

IndyStar reporter Fatima Hussein contributed to this story.

Call IndyStar reporter Madeline Buckley at (317) 444-6083. Follow her on Twitter: @Mabuckley88.

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