October 7, 2024 5:20 a.m.

The News Review is reporting:

Former Douglas County Sheriff’s Office deputy Peter Collins was sentenced Friday to two years in prison for embezzling more than $20,000 from the Douglas County Law Enforcement Association.

Collins was found guilty on two counts of first-degree aggravated theft for stealing more than $10,000 from the association, both are Class B felonies. Collins was found guilty of crimes committed from May 22, 2020, to Nov. 23, 2020, and from June 14, 2021, to Dec. 14, 2021, when he served as the treasurer for the organization.

Collins, 45, entered into a plea agreement. He pleaded guilty to the two charges, while 19 other charges against him were dropped.

A graduate of Oregon State University, Collins first joined the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office in 2008, serving as a corrections deputy until his employment was terminated in May 2023. He was named Corrections Deputy of the Year in 2017 by the Roseburg Optimist Club. Prior to his arrest, Collins had no criminal history.

Collins will have two years of post-prison supervision and will have to pay $400 in fines once released.

Get the complete story by picking up a copy of Monday’s edition of The News Review.