Mass. cop gets prison for traffic theft

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) - A Springfield police officer convicted of stealing nearly $2,000 during a traffic stop has been sentenced to three to four years in state prison.

Officer Steven Buzzell was sentenced Thursday by Hampden Superior Court Judge Cornelius Moriarty, one day after a jury found him guilty of three counts of larceny over $250.

The jury acquitted a second officer, Leonardo Matos, of the same charges.

Moriarty also ordered Buzzell to pay restitution to the three tobacco workers he allegedly stole from during the June 2008 traffic stop.

Buzzell's attorney, Raipher Pellegrino, said his client clearly made a wrong decision and is deeply shameful.

He had asked the judge to sentence Buzzell either to probation or six months in the House of Corrections.