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Resigned Lapeer County Sheriff's Sgt. Daniel Smoke was sentenced to 180 days in jail, three years of probation, about $36,780 in restitution, court costs and attorney fees for attempted embezzlement. He will be incarcerated in the Shiawassee County lockup.

"It's a sad chapter, when one of your own commits a crime against the county," said Lapeer County Prosecutor Byron Konschuh. "It doesn't get much worse than that."

The resigned county employee, who held a trusted position of respect in the jail, is thought to have skimmed almost $71,000 from inmates and the county.

Attorney Mike Gildner spoke on his client's behalf before he was sentenced by Circuit Court Judge Nick Holowka.

"Dan Smoke is a good person who did a bad thing," Gildner said. "He knew what he did was wrong. He said it was a relief to be caught. He owned up and is willing to pay the price."

But Smoke's actions will have a negative impact on law enforcement for many years. He was a well respected officer and many deputies sought to pattern their careers after him, Holowka said.

"When the general public see something like this, it casts a shadow over these people in uniform," said Holowka.

Smoke is thought to have stolen almost $71,000 from the jail, but Gildner argued that the paper trail positively tied him to about $25,243. Konschuh asked for that reimbursement as well as more than $11,043 to pay for an outside company audit to the county, and about $493 to reimburse the Lapeer Hallmark store. Though he never plead on that charge, Smoke is thought to be the thief caught on the store camera switching price tags, swiping Crocs shoes and children's computer toys.

The county has already been paid back through its insurance company, so Smoke must repay them, as well as the Hallmark store during his three years on probation. If he doesn't succeed, his probation could be extended another two years, said Konschuh.

"We could also attach a lien to his house," Konschuh said.

The county has since modified its computer software to prevent another occurrence of theft, said Lapeer County Sheriff Ron Kalanquin.

Susan Younger may be reached at (810) 664-0811, Ext. 8122, or susan.younger@lapeergroup.com