Michael Koistinen Changes Plea Week Before Trial

Michael Koistinen will not face a jury trial next week.

The 26-year-old former Windsor Locks police office entered a no contest plea today in Hartford Superior Court on charges related to the death of a local teen, according to the Hartford Courant.

Koistinen was scheduled to begin trial on June 19^th charges of first-degree manslaughter, misconduct with a motor vehicle and tampering with evidence. to hear the trial.

Koistinen enter his plea for a lesser charge of second-degree manslaughter and tampering with physical evidence, according to a report from WFSB. He will be sentenced on Aug. 27 and could face 15 years in jail that could be suspended at 64 months, according to WFSB.

Koistinen, of Suffield, was off duty when he was driving his car when he struck and killed 15-year-old Henry Dang as the teen rode is bike on Spring Street at night in Oct. 2010. State police investigators allege that Koistinen, a probationary officer, had been drinking alcoholic beverages for several hours time of the accident.

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The Dang family has , but settled with the former officer for an undisclosed amount in September 2011.

Koistinen’s father, Robert Koistinen, was longtime sergeant with the department at the time of the accident. Robert Koistinen has been charged with interfering with the investigation and in January. He is trying to get his job back, according to officials.