LEONARDTOWN, Md. (Sept. 4, 2008)—Deputy First Class David A. Goff's employment with the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office has been terminated by Sheriff Timothy K. Cameron effective Thursday. Goff was found guilty of second-degree assault and driving while intoxicated on Aug. 15.
Goff had been on suspension with full pay since a May 13 incident where he assaulted Shane Weasenforth, 25, of St. James, in the commission of an arrest while off-duty and in plain clothes. Goff was reported to have a blood alcohol content of 0.18—twice the legal limit—at the time of the incident.
After the incident, Goff remained in the employment of the Sheriff's Office, but was on suspension with full pay in accordance with State law, the Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights.
Goff made a deal with prosecutors to waive his right to appeal the case in exchange for receiving a three year supervised probation before judgement. The move leaves Goff with no criminal record. However, visiting judge Gary Gasparovic still sentenced Goff to 30 days for the DWI charge and 10 days for the second-degree assault, but suspended the total time to 48 hours in the county detention center.
The move for probation before judgement resulting in no conviction record allowed Goff to remain employed with the sheriff's office until an administrative trial board could determine his ultimate fate. A trial board is mandated by the same Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights that allowed Goff to
receive full pay while on suspension.
Goff ultimately waived his rights to the trial board, according to Dfc. Cindy Allen, public information officer for the sheriff. Subsequently, Goff was terminated for cause which was cited as "violation of the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office Policies and Procedures."