Former Kenmore Police Chief Peter Breitnauer entered a guilty plea in federal court Thursday to stealing painkillers from a community dropbox. Breitnauer, 68, a 34-year veteran of the department who spent the last six years as chief, also admitted to storing stolen hydrocodone in a closet in his office and illegally using the pills.
After his arrest in October, Breitnauer admitted to an addiction to painkillers, but he did not do so during his plea agreement.
Breitnauer faces up to six months in prison, but under a plea deal, he could receive "special probation" with the possiblity of expungement of the misdemeanor conviction if he stays clean and out of trouble. The law is designed for defendants facing first-time drug possession convictions.
