Judge questions sentence for officer who had porn on phone

LYNDEN, Wash. (AP) — A judge has postponed the sentencing of a longtime Lynden police officer who pleaded guilty to having pornography of a teenage girl on his work phone.

The Bellingham Herald reports that Donald Merle Glunt agreed to a plea deal in March that offered 45 days of house arrest instead of jail-time.

He was scheduled to be sentenced Friday, but the judge began questioning that plan.

Prosecutors say the deal will save taxpayers from paying for medical costs associated with Glunt's stomach cancer. But some in the community signed a petition calling for a harsher punishment.

At Friday's hearing, Judge Ira Uhrig referenced an investigator's note that said Glunt was not taking responsibility for his behavior.

He also questioned the sentence and asked if Glunt's Internet access would be cut off during his house arrest.

No new sentencing date was set.