Posted on 04/26/2007 8:31:28 PM PDT by rednesss
ATLANTA -- UPDATE: Federal prosecutors have recommended sentences of 121 months for Junnier and 151 months for Smith. D.A. Paul Howard has indicated he would go along with the federal prosecutors recommendation. A formal sentencing hearing will be held at a later date.
Two police officers pleaded guilty today to federal and state charges in the shooting death of a 92-year-old Atlanta woman during a botched drug raid last fall. A third officer still faces charges in the woman's death.
Forty-year-old Gregg Junnier, who retired from the Atlanta police force in January, and 35-year-old Officer J.R. Smith pleaded guilty to manslaughter, violation of oath, criminal solicitation and making false statements. Smith also pleaded guilty to perjury, based on untrue claims in a warrant.
Another officer, 40-year-old Arthur Tesler, was indicted today on charges of violation of oath by a public officer, making false statements and false imprisonment under color of legal process. His attorney, William McKenney, said Tesler expects to go to trial.
Later this afternon in federal court, Junnier and Smith each pleaded guilty to a single charge of conspiracy to violate a person's civil rights, resulting in death.
U.S. Attorney David Nahmias said the recommended sentence for Junnier will be ten years and one month in prison, and 12 years, seven months for Smith.
State and federal sentences are expected to run concurrently for both men.
The three were part of a November 21st "no-knock" drug raid on the home of Kathryn Johnston. Police said an informant had described buying drugs from a dealer there. When the officers burst in, Johnston fired a shot at them. They fired back, killing her and wounding each other.
Good. I saw they were charged with murder, which didn’t seem right since that requires premeditation (I believe). This looks like an appropriate finding.
Now if only they could charge the higher-ups involved, including the PD leadership and the judge who signed the warrant.
They deserve 1st degree murder charges and the hangman’s noose.
It would seem like the prosecution must have had a strong case, or they would have fought it.
The whole “informant named Sam” business was a crock. This smelled to high heaven from the word go.
This result won’t help the party killed, though. I am sure some idiot will say this is “proof the system works.”
The perjury is a felony in and of itself and the death that resulted from commission of that felony would be a capital murder in a lot of jurisdictions.
The witness tampering would surely inflame jurors and increase the likelihood of a guilty verdict.
Although it surprises me (but does not disappoint me) that they were charged, what they have now is a bargain compared to what they would have received in a trial.
They committed a robbery in which someone got killed. That'd be Murder One if not committed by the elite.
I didn’t realize that that situation was Murder One. I stand corrected.
These guys deserve much longer time. I hope the victim’s family is able to sue them and their department for millions.
To KILL an older civilian, because the concocted a false story so they could go play military should cost them and their department dearly.
But it won’t. For the multiple CRIMES committed they are getting a slap on the wrist.
They fired back, killing her and wounding each other.
What a couple of fools, gang bangers with badges if you ask me. They got what they deserved.
I just hope this will send a message to all law enforcement that they better check their facts more than once before kicking down the door of a 92 year old woman.
Actually it's a Federal Crime which carries the death penalty.
TITLE 18, U.S.C., SECTION 242
Whoever, under color of any law, statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom, willfully subjects any person in any State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States, ... shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and if bodily injury results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include the use, attempted use, or threatened use of a dangerous weapon, explosives, or fire, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and if death results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include kidnaping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both, or may be sentenced to death.
But since they're cops, they'll only get ten years.
L
I remember when the original article on this incident was posted here, there were quite a few people defending the cops for killing a 92 year-old woman. There were problems with their story even back then.
Every single case these yahoos ever worked on is now going to be gone over with a fine tooth comb and many an inmate will be released. Who knows who is an actual criminal and who just got something planted on them????
They'll go to a country club prison.
I hope these thugs are tossed is with the General Population.
I hope their cell mates have just come out of a very long stint in solitary.
I seem to recall that these thugs were being defended by the Police State and Drug War Sycophants here at FR.
It would be fun to pull up those threads and call out Jack Booted Thug Cheerleading Squad among us.
> It would be fun to pull up those threads and call out Jack Booted Thug Cheerleading Squad among us.
Agreed, but I am too lazy. But, I will just remember it and remind others the next time it happens (and it will) and the same Jack Booted Thugs defend the rogue cops. Naturally, they will insist that THIS time it is different. But, it won’t be. Amazing that they never admit their error and correct their ways — a lot like “bleading heart liburals”.
I have only contempt for cops who do this and say they deserve the worst they can get.
Not only did they get a search warrant on fabricated evidence but then went in as children playing army and shot a woman to death.
Too many cops love playing this gestapo/delta force stuff. How many more at different parts of the country get away with this stuff all the time?
So anything these guys get in not enough to set an example for the other cowboys out there.
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