Ex-Blackfoot school resource officer may get plea deal in drug case - East Idaho News
Blackfoot

Ex-Blackfoot school resource officer may get plea deal in drug case

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POCATELLO — A status hearing is set next month in the case of a Blackfoot school resource officer charged with drug possession last year.

Former Blackfoot police office Paul Hardwicke, who also worked as a Blackfoot High School resource officer, was charged with two counts of felony possession of a controlled substance, oxycodone and morphine, and two counts of misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance, tramadol and a prescription-only drug.

Charges against him were filed May 28, 2015. At that time Hardwicke was the SRO at Blackfoot High School. He was immediately removed from the position and placed on administrative leave and he is no longer a Blackfoot police officer.

Hardwicke pleaded not guilty to the charges against him in November 2015 and his trial has been continued multiple times.

Bannock County Deputy Prosecutor JaNiece Price was appointed as special prosecutor in the case.

Price said Thursday that while no agreement is officially in place, the state is prepared to propose a plea deal in the case. If the deal is accepted, the state would dismiss the felony charges and the former law enforcement officer would plead guilty to two misdemeanor drug possession charges.

Price said a hearing scheduled for Jan. 4 will determine if Hardwicke will accept the plea agreement or if the case will proceed to trial.

This article first appeared in the Idaho State Journal. It is used here with permission.

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