A former Cedar Rapids police officer who used a home loan to pay off gambling debts was sentenced to probation instead of jail time. 40-year-old Christopher Usher of Marion pleaded guilty in August to making a false certification to get a loan. Usher got the home equity loan saying he would make improvements to his home, but instead intended to use the money to pay gambling debts. Usher was given two years probation, ordered to pay over 19-thousand dollars in restitution and is banned from casinos or playing the lottery or other types of gambling.
