Court Docket: Violation of Probation

Daniel Cooper, 32, appeared in Danbury Superior Court on Sept. 24 on the charge he violated the terms of his probation.

Cooper had been sentenced on Sept. 12, 2007, to five years in prison, execution suspended after six months with five years of probation. He had been convicted of possession of narcotics, violation of a protective order and first-degree failure to appear, according to court records.

To win early release, Cooper had to agree to nine special conditions.

The nine conditions were reduced to five in 2008. Those were no drugs, no drug dealers, after treatment care, plus work and proof of work.

Everything appears to have gone well until October 2011, when Cooper failed to report to probation. He failed to appear four times in October and November 2011. He did show up in December with an attorney. He was unable to submit a urine sample, and was ordered to report the next morning to provide one. He didn't show up the next morning.

In January 2012 he submitted a urine sample and told probation it would test  positive for marijuana. He was told to return to drug treatment. In a later meeting, he told probation officers his urine would also test positive for cocaine and opiates. By Feb. 1, 2012, the results were back, and yes, the urine had tested positive for marijuana, cocaine and opiates.

In court on Sept. 24, Cooper pleaded guilty to the violation of probation charge. He agreed to a plea deal that would send him to prison for 18 months, instead of the up to forty-two months he owes on the original sentence.

Judge John Blawie asked Cooper if he was making this decision of his own accord, if he was under the influence of any drugs or alcohol. Cooper said yes to own accord and no to being under the influence.

Blawie said if he pleaded guilty, he couldn't withdraw that plea without a valid legal reason.

A valid legal reason isn't that you changed your mind, Blawie said.