A former New York State trooper who admitted to organizing parties with prostitutes while off-duty was sentenced Wednesday to three years probation and 300 hours of community service.Titus Taggart, 42, an 18-year veteran of the state police, was fired last summer after the allegations surfaced and an internal investigation was conducted.
In a peal deal last December, Taggart admitted to a misdemeanor count of promoting prostitution in Erie County Court. Prosecutors say he transported prostitutes over the border from Canada. He could have been sentenced to up to a year in jail.
Taggart was assigned to the Thruway detail in Buffalo. Other Western New York troopers were also accused of misconduct and suspended during the investigation.
Erie County Judge Kenneth Case decided against jail time based on Taggart's poor financial condition due to his firing and received several letters of support written on his behalf.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.