Former Payette County deputy sentenced for hit-and-run DUI
By JESSICA KELLER
ARGUS OBSERVER
Friday, June 18, 2010 10:38 AM PDT
PAYETTE — A former Payette County Sheriff’s deputy was sentenced to six years in prison for aggravated driving under the influence involving a car crash resulting in injuries in December.
Troy Sallee was arrested Dec. 22, 2009, for DUI after causing an accident at the intersection of Northwest 16th Street and Allens Avenue in Fruitland. According to reports, Sallee failed to stop at a red light. Crystal Yokom, Payette, was sent to Holy Rosary Medical Center with extensive injuries, including a broken ankle, broken ribs and cuts and bruises. Her daughter suffered from cuts and bruises.
Sallee pleaded guilty to the charges, Payette County Prosecutor Anne Marie Kelso said.
According to his sentencing terms, the first year and a half of Sallee’s prison term is fixed.
“That means he’ll have to serve a year and a half before he’s eligible for parole,” Kelso said.
She said the sentence was very reasonable given the charges.
It was Sallee’s first felony conviction but not the first time he was arrested for driving under the influence. Sallee, who was a 12-year veteran with the Payette County Sheriff’s Office, was first arrested Oct. 1, 2009, for misdemeanor DUI. He resigned from his position at PCSO following the arrest and pleaded guilty Dec. 21 — one day prior to his felony arrest.
In other police news: Ontario Police Department officers arrested two people in a graffiti-related incident early this morning. OPD Capt. Mark Alexander said police responded to the 600 block of Northwest Second Avenue at 1:30 a.m. after somebody observed two individuals spray-painting a shed in the area and made the report. When officers arrived they located the suspects, although one led police on a short foot pursuit.
“He ran through some yards and was ultimately caught on Northwest Second Avenue and Eighth Street,” Alexander said of the 15-year-old male from Nyssa.
The teen was placed under arrest for escape in the third degree, criminal mischief, criminal trespass, unlawfully applying graffiti and curfew. The second individual, Jose Munoz, 21, Ontario, was arrested on charges of criminal mischief. Alexander said while police know Munoz acted with the individual they can’t prove that he actually applied the graffiti.
“It was interesting in the fact that he was also in possession of a police scanner,” Alexander said of Munoz at the time of his arrest, stating he was possibly monitoring any police activity in the area.
Alexander said at least three residences were damaged by the blue graffiti, which was gang-related. Because it was gang-related, police have initiated the gang member designation process for the two.
Alexander also asks that people call police and report any suspicious activities because the city is still facing a substantial number of vehicle breaking and entering. He also reminds people to keep their valuables and keys out of the vehicles and be vigilant.
