Former Erie County Deputy Sheriff Michael Haug went from putting people behind bars to being behind bars himself Wednesday.Haug, 29, was sentenced to two-to-six years in prison for drunkenly striking a motorcyclist stopped for a red light on Sheridan Drive and Bailey Avenue while off-duty last August 4.
When Haug's blood was tested three hours later it was three times the legal limit. A black box in his car showed the Kenmore resident had been traveling 60 mph.
Daniel Colosimo, 37, suffered serious injuries in the crash. He was in critical condition upon admission at ECMC with numerous internal injuries. Colomiso was in court for the sentencing.
County Judge Timothy Franczyk says the sentence was tougher than expected because Haug had been stopped for drunken driving in 2009 and let go because of professional courtesy by another law officer.
"The judge had various pieces of knowledge at the fingertips with all the different reports that were submitted as part of sentencing and the judge is able to take all of that into consideration," said Assistant District Attorney Kelley Omel.
"Nobody's above the law. They shouldn't be," Colosimo said.
Jerry Colosimo, the brother of the injured motorcyclist, says there were other DWI stops where Haug was let go by other officers.
