LE MARS, Iowa -- Aaron Leusink's addiction to painkillers started with one pill.
Prescribed hydrocodone after undergoing a vasectomy performed after his fourth child was born 11 years ago, Leusink said he took one of the pills to ease the pain as he recovered from the procedure.
"One pill that made me feel good changed my entire life," Leusink told District Judge Roger Sailer.
The high from that first pill led Leusink to take all of his prescription, then any unused opiates he could find from family members' past prescriptions. He later turned to theft, using his position as a Plymouth County Sheriff's deputy to steal prescription drugs collected as evidence and from homes while serving search warrants. He broke into pharmacies and stole more.
Former Plymouth County Sheriff's deputy Aaron Leusink speaks to family members before his sentencing hearing Thursday in Plymouth County District Court in Le Mars, Iowa. Leusink was sentenced to 40 years in prison for stealing prescription drugs from evidence, homes and pharmacies.
His secrets came crashing down on April 20, 2020, when a state investigator visited his home, asking about the missing drugs.
"I had to look my family in the face and tell them who I had become," the former deputy said.
He looked his family members in the face again Thursday, this time hugging, kissing and telling them goodbye after Sailer sentenced him to 40 years in prison for burglary, theft and other charges.
Leusink had faced up to 60 years in prison, and Sailer said the fact Leusink had sought treatment and has been sober since his arrest two years ago worked in his favor. However, the circumstances surrounding the crimes were "nothing short of outrageous," Sailer said, and the damage done to the integrity of the sheriff's office, law enforcement and the criminal justice system is not easily fixed.
"All of these crimes represent a gross, gross violation of the public's trust," said Sailer, who also fined Leusink a total of $3,195.
Apologizing to his former co-workers, the community and his family, Leusink asked Sailer for leniency, telling the judge he'd continue his drug abuse rehabilitation and needed to support his family, who he said would suffer financially in his absence, possibly losing their business and home.
"I've made some mistakes, your honor, and I fully understand the people I've hurt," Leusink said. "I'm asking you for a chance to right my wrongs but at the same time support my family."
Ironically, Leusink served as the department's DARE officer for nine years, educating hundreds of Plymouth County students about the dangers of drugs. Retired Sheriff Mike Van Otterloo said the 30 years he spent in office promoting integrity and trust were shattered by a man he had hired and had sworn under oath to uphold the law.
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Prescribed hydrocodone after undergoing a vasectomy performed after his fourth child was born 11 years ago, Leusink said he took one of the pills to ease the pain as he recovered from the procedure.
"One pill that made me feel good changed my entire life," Leusink told District Judge Roger Sailer.
The high from that first pill led Leusink to take all of his prescription, then any unused opiates he could find from family members' past prescriptions. He later turned to theft, using his position as a Plymouth County Sheriff's deputy to steal prescription drugs collected as evidence and from homes while serving search warrants. He broke into pharmacies and stole more.
Former Plymouth County Sheriff's deputy Aaron Leusink speaks to family members before his sentencing hearing Thursday in Plymouth County District Court in Le Mars, Iowa. Leusink was sentenced to 40 years in prison for stealing prescription drugs from evidence, homes and pharmacies.
His secrets came crashing down on April 20, 2020, when a state investigator visited his home, asking about the missing drugs.
"I had to look my family in the face and tell them who I had become," the former deputy said.
He looked his family members in the face again Thursday, this time hugging, kissing and telling them goodbye after Sailer sentenced him to 40 years in prison for burglary, theft and other charges.
Leusink had faced up to 60 years in prison, and Sailer said the fact Leusink had sought treatment and has been sober since his arrest two years ago worked in his favor. However, the circumstances surrounding the crimes were "nothing short of outrageous," Sailer said, and the damage done to the integrity of the sheriff's office, law enforcement and the criminal justice system is not easily fixed.
"All of these crimes represent a gross, gross violation of the public's trust," said Sailer, who also fined Leusink a total of $3,195.
Apologizing to his former co-workers, the community and his family, Leusink asked Sailer for leniency, telling the judge he'd continue his drug abuse rehabilitation and needed to support his family, who he said would suffer financially in his absence, possibly losing their business and home.
"I've made some mistakes, your honor, and I fully understand the people I've hurt," Leusink said. "I'm asking you for a chance to right my wrongs but at the same time support my family."
Ironically, Leusink served as the department's DARE officer for nine years, educating hundreds of Plymouth County students about the dangers of drugs. Retired Sheriff Mike Van Otterloo said the 30 years he spent in office promoting integrity and trust were shattered by a man he had hired and had sworn under oath to uphold the law.
Ex-Plymouth County deputy who stole painkillers gets 40-year prison sentence
The deputy used his position as a Plymouth County sheriff's deputy to steal prescription drugs collected as evidence and from homes while serving search warrants. He broke into pharmacies and
