Coppo

HOUGHTON — Houghton County Undersheriff Kevin Coppo pleaded guilty Thursday to two misdemeanor charges related to a March drunk-driving incident in a county vehicle in Traverse City.

He pleaded guilty in 86th District Court to operating with a blood-alcohol content above .17, a six-month misdemeanor, and a new charge of failure to report an accident, a three-month misdemeanor.

The original second count, a three-month misdemeanor for failing to stop after a collision, was dropped in a plea agreement.

Coppo’s sentencing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Aug. 1.

Coppo was arrested March 3 at the Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City, where he was staying after attending a conference for first responders.

A hotel security officer called police after seeing Coppo reverse into another vehicle in the parking lot.

Officers tracked Coppo to his room, where they found numerous empty cans of alcohol. More were found in his sheriff’s department vehicle in the parking lot.

He refused a breathalyzer test at the scene. Testing at the police station showed blood-alcohol levels of .23 and .24, three times the legal limit.

Coppo is on a leave of absence from the sheriff’s office.

Sgt. Jon Giachino was appointed as temporary undersheriff in April.

Coppo was also cited for refusing a breathalyzer test. A hearing on that charge is scheduled for June 23.