OFFICER ACCUSED IN THREATS

TAMPA - A Plant City police officer might find himself in jail today if a
federal prosecutor has his way. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Del Fuoco,
who is leading the high-profile corruption case against the Plant City
Police Department, is trying to put an officer in jail for allegedly
threatening a government witness.

Officer Armand Cotnoir, 27, who worked in a special drug unit, is weeks
away from trial in U.S. District Court on corruption charges.

He faces up to 50 years in prison if convicted on charges he searched homes
for drugs without a warrant, stole pornographic videos and other items,
falsified police reports, and lied to judges.

He is formally charged with mail fraud, conspiracy to deprive citizens of
their civil rights, deprivation of civil rights, obstruction of justice and
concealing knowledge of a felony.

Cotnoir has been out of jail on a $25,000 appearance bond since his arrest
in December. Prosecutors are trying to revoke Cotnoir's bond because they
say he intimidated an unnamed witness and they fear for the witness' safety.

A federal judge will decide the issue at a hearing this morning.

Cotnoir's attorney, Arthur Eggers, declined to comment. Ronald Cacciatore,
attorney for Plant City Police Chief Bill McDaniel and the department, was
out of town and could not be reached for comment.

This is the latest battle in what has become an all-out war between the
government and a small-town police department. The city, known as the
winter strawberry capital of the world, has a population of 31,000 and a
66-officer department.

Cotnoir is the third officer charged in the corruption scandal. The
investigation has netted guilty pleas from two former Plant City officers.

Early in the investigation, Cotnoir signed a cooperation agreement with
prosecutors. That agreement was revoked after prosecutors discovered that
Cotnoir misled them, court documents state.

But Cotnoir said he never lied, he was just unwilling to accept their
account of what happened.

Cotnoir faces a July 8 trial. He is on administrative duty at the department.

In a motion filed Thursday, Del Fuoco accused Cotnoir of trying to convince
a government witness, whose name has not been disclosed, not to talk with
Florida Department of Law Enforcement agents.

``Defendant Cotnoir offered the witness pecuniary compensation in the form
of paid for and alleged `legal advice' prior to discussing matters under
investigation,'' Del Fuoco wrote.

The offer was an attempt by Cotnoir and unnamed co-conspirators to
``muzzle'' the witness from cooperating with the government's
investigation, Del Fuoco said in court papers.

Del Fuoco said Cotnoir's conduct violates the conditions of his bond. He is
asking a judge to revoke it and place Cotnoir in jail until his trial.

Del Fuoco said Cotnoir is a serious threat to the witness' safety. He did
not offer specifics about the threat.