Former Jefferson County Deputy Sentenced

Jefferson Co., Mo. (KFMO) - Former Jefferson County Sheriff's Deputy Michael Filsinger was sentenced to seven years in prison for drug charges, though the sentence was suspended in favor of five years' supervised probation.

37-year-old Filsinger, of Arnold, pleaded guilty to three counts of stealing a controlled substance and one count of misuse of information by a public servant. As part of his probation, Filsinger must enter a drug treatment facility within a week, perform 500 hours of community service, and adhere to strict conditions, including passing drug tests. If he fails any part of his probation, he will be sent to prison immediately. Filsinger's crimes involved stealing medication from victims and suspects while serving as a deputy.

His actions, described as a betrayal of his law enforcement position, led to his termination from the Sheriff's Office in 2021 after an internal investigation. The judge emphasized that Filsinger must address his drug addiction and warned that any probation violation would result in imprisonment.

Filsinger is due back in court, Tuesday, September 3, to inform the judge of what drug treatment facility he will enter.