Former Berthoud officer sentenced for abuse

LOVELAND — A former Berthoud police officer who authorities say force-fed his 15-year-old daughter hot sauce, bound her hands with zip ties and hit her with ropes, was sentenced to serve three years probation and 30 days in the county jail's work-release program after previously pleading guilty to one count of child abuse.

Jeremy Yachik, 37, starts the Larimer County work-release program Sept. 1. He also has 18 months to complete 80 hours of community service and can have no contact with his daughter, among other stipulations of the sentence handed down Monday by Larimer County Judge Thomas Lynch.

Five years supervised probation and 60 days in jail is the maximum sentence for a person facing a Class 2 misdemeanor child abuse charge Lynch said.

He appeared in court for sentencing in Loveland Monday morning and declined to speak. His attorney, Troy Krenning, said he would be "flogged," "no matter what he says."

More: Former Berthoud cop pleads guilty to child abuse

Loveland police handled the investigation of abuse allegations against Yachik after Ashley Saint-Roberts, Yachik's ex-fiancee who turned him in, claimed Berthoud Police Chief Glen Johnson didn't respond to her attempts to report Yachik in July. A video showing Yachik kicking and hitting his daughter spread online.

Lynch weighed Yachik's fate against others who have faced child abuse charges but said each case is unique. From what Lynch saw of Yachik's actions in the video — and through interviews with witnesses "who know both sides of the case" and review of case documents — "... it was an obvious demonstration of control that goes beyond discipline."

Larimer County Deputy District Attorney David Vandenberg said the video only captured a moment, a "snapshot" of what he characterized as "long-term" abuse.

"Mentally, he's going to have to do a 180," Vandenberg said.

Krenning took issue with this assessment, saying Yachik has been and will continue improving himself.

"My client doesn't need to do a 180. He needs to keep a steady course," Krenning said.

Yachik's daughter is now 17 and living with a foster family. She told Lynch in court Monday she has, among a host of issues, night terrors and stomach issues — results of the abuse from her father. Nonetheless, she said she doesn't "hate her father personally. I just hate the things he did."

She added: "I still love him and I want him to get help."

She asked Lynch to require father to attend anger management courses and parenting classes. Lynch didn't impose such classes, not wanting to duplicate possible stipulations of another court case with which Yachik is involved.

Yachik's fiance, pastor and neighbor also testified. The latter two said Yachik has sought advice on becoming a better man; his pastor said he has hope for Yachik.

Struggling against tears, Yachik's finance said she loves Yachik with all her heart and that "there are no words" to express what her family has been through in the past eight months. Her family has received death threats, and the children have been "interrogated and chastised" at school.

"And the only thing that I'm asking today is for all of this not to continue," she told Lynch.

Krenning says the case has resulted in a "media circus," with Yachik getting more negative attention than than is usual for a someone guilty of child abuse. Media attention predated the investigation, Vandenberg said, arguing too that Yachik's position as a former police officer was "an aggravating factor."

"They (law enforcement officials) are held to a higher standard" by members of the community who trust them.

"... That trust in this case was later betrayed."

Yachik admitted to the acts and said they were punishment because his daughter wouldn't "communicate" with him, according to his arrest affidavit in Larimer County Court. The case and subsequent cover-up by others in the department ultimately prompted Berthoud police to be dissolved; the Larimer County Sheriff's Office has since taken over law enforcement operations.

Yachik was arrested and released on bond in October and had been scheduled for a May jury trial. However, Yachik in April agreed to plead guilty to the single count of Class 2 misdemeanor child abuse in an effort to stave off the lengthy trial.

He can have no contact with his daughter.

Depending on income, work-release residents pay between $18 and $40 per night (plus the cost of drug screening) to live in a building next door to the Larimer County Jail in Fort Collins. They must check in every night; are subject to random drug screenings; and must abide by all the rules.

One mistake, and they go directly to booking at the jail.