Latest: Police commissioner’s lawyer criticizes prosecutors

BALTIMORE – The Latest on Baltimore’s police commissioner, who is facing charges of failure to file taxes (all times local):

2:40 p.m.

A lawyer for Baltimore police Commissioner Darryl De Sousa says federal prosecutors did not give him a chance to offer an explanation or to file late tax returns before they brought criminal charges against him.

Silverman released a statement Friday after Mayor Catherine Pugh announced she has suspended De Sousa with pay. He said most taxpayers are given a chance to “cure” by filing belated tax returns.

Silverman said De Sousa did not learn of the investigation until after the charges were filed.

Silverman told The Associated Press that De Sousa is “proud of his 30 years of service to the citizens of Baltimore.”

De Sousa is charged with three misdemeanour counts of failure to file taxes. He has apologized and said he failed to sufficiently prioritize his personal affairs.

___

1:20 p.m.

Baltimore’s mayor says the city’s police commissioner has been suspended with pay after he was charged with three misdemeanour counts of failure to file taxes.

The Friday announcement from Mayor Catherine Pugh comes after the U.S. Attorney’s office alleged Thursday that Commissioner Darryl De Sousa wilfully failed to file a federal return for tax years 2013, 2014 and 2015.

If the federal charges are proven, Baltimore’s top cop faces a maximum sentence of one year in prison and a $25,000 fine for each of the three counts.

In a statement, De Sousa admitted his failure to file federal and state taxes for those three years but portrayed it as an oversight.

Pugh had issued a statement a day earlier saying she has “full confidence” in De Sousa.

___

6 a.m.

In the latest embarrassment to rock the beleaguered Baltimore police force, the city’s police commissioner faces three misdemeanour counts of failure to file taxes.

If the federal charges are proven, Baltimore’s top cop faces a maximum sentence of one year in prison and a $25,000 fine for each of the three counts.

In a statement, De Sousa admitted his failure to file federal and state taxes for those three years but portrayed it as an oversight.

Mayor Catherine Pugh issued a statement saying she has “full confidence” in De Sousa. The police union’s leader wants him to step aside.