Ex-Colo. Chief Begins Sentence on Convictions

Feb. 07--LONGMONT -- Former Hygiene Fire Chief Bill Nelson was booked at the Boulder County Jail on Monday to be fitted for a monitor to begin 20 days of home confinement for his convictions on prohibited use of a weapon and driving under the influence.

Nelson was arrested in July on suspicion of impersonating a police officer, driving under the influence per se, driving under the influence second offense, misdemeanor prohibited use of a weapon, improper use of emergency lights and marijuana possession. Nelson in January took a deal with prosecutors and pleaded guilty to his second DUI offense, the weapons charge and the petty marijuana possession charge.

He was accused of using the volunteer firefighter emergency lights on his truck to stop another vehicle at Hygiene Road and North Foothills Highway, according to reports. One of the occupants in the car, a relative of a Boulder County Sheriff's Office employee, recognized that his vehicle was not a police vehicle and called 911. Police believed Nelson was intoxicated at the time, and they reported finding a gun and the marijuana in his truck.

Nelson lost his chief post shortly after the arrest.

Under the deal with prosecutors, he was sentenced to two years of probation, 96 hours of community service and home detention, and was given a 50-day suspended jail sentence.

Pierrette J. Shields can be reached at 303-684-5273 or [email protected].

Copyright 2012 - Daily Times-Call, Longmont, Colo.