MORRISTOWN -- A suspended Rockaway Township police officer accused of lying to a state trooper over a relative's DWI charge was admitted into the county's pretrial intervention program Monday, The Daily Record reported.

Jury selection in the misconduct trial of Clifton Gauthier was scheduled to begin this week, but the 36-year-old Sparta resident made a deal with prosecutors under which he would serve 25 hours of community service and spend a year on probation. Upon successful completion of PTI all charges against him would be dismissed.

Clifton Gauthier (File photo)

If convicted on the charge of official misconduct, Gauthier, an Iraq War veteran, faced up to five years in prison.

Authorities say that in Feb. 2012, Gauthier called State Trooper Nagib Saad, who had arrested his cousin on a DWI charge.

Gauthier allegedly told Saad that he had discussed the matter with the municipal prosecutor, Denis Driscoll, who decided that Saad did not have to appear in court.

But when Saad called Driscoll to confirm, Driscoll said he had not spoken to Gauthier about the case and that the matter still had not been resolved, authorities said.

Driscoll filed a complaint that prompted an internal affairs investigation and ultimately led to the charges against Gauthier.

Gauthier, who has said he would like to be a police officer again, is not barred from seeking reinstatement to the Rockaway Township Police Department, but he still faces administrative charges that could keep him off the force. He cannot seek reinstatement until the completion of the pretrial intervention program.

Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@PaulMilo2. Find NJ.com on Facebook.