Seven days before his hearing was set to begin, a former Windsor Locks pleaded no contest to charges connected to the death of Henry Dang, 15, in 2010.
Michael Koistinen was charged with manslaughter in the death of Dang of Windsor Locks.
Koistinen was off-duty just before midnight on Oct. 29, 2010, after a night of drinking, according to state police, and hit Dang as the teen was riding his bike.
Koistinen pleaded no contest to manslaughter and second-degree tampering with evidence and will be sentenced to 15 years in prison, suspended after 64 months, which equates to five years and four months.
Sentencing will be held on Aug, 27 at 2 p.m.
Police estimate that Koistinen was driving more than 70 miles per hour in a 35-mile-per-hour zone.
On the night of the crash, Koistinen was taken from the scene by his father, Robert Koistinen, who was also a Windsor Locks police officer. He was never given a breathalyzer test or a blood alcohol test at the hospital after the crash.
Robert Koistinen was later arrested and charged with hindering prosecution and interfering. He was fired from his job in January and had pleaded not guilty.
State police investigators, who took over the investigation, determined Michael Koistinen had been drinking for several hours before the accident. Investigators at the scene also found a glass containing beer, that a witness said Koistenen tossed aside after the accident. State Police eventually charged Koistinen with manslaughter in connection with Dang's death.
On Sept 6, Koistinen appeared before the State Board of Arbitration and Mediation and claimed the Windsor Locks Police Commission illegally fired him, according to Scott Jelescheff, a lawyer for the International Brotherhood of Police Officers.
The Police Commission said it had the right to fire Koistinen in December, because he was still a probationary officer at the time of the accident, and could be fired for any cause.
Michael Koistinen was also charged with misconduct with a motor vehicle and tampering with physical evidence.
The trial was scheduled to begin on June 19.
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Dang’s family was in court and has no objection to the deal, according to their attorney.
Michael Koistinen left the court without commenting. Hisattorney said they will reserve comments for sentencing.
