Former cops sentenced in botched raid

Three former Atlanta police officers who each pleaded guilty to a federal conspiracy charge in connection with the death of an elderly woman during a botched drug raid were sentenced Tuesday to federal prison.

Jason R. Smith, Gregg Junnier and Arthur Tesler received sentences ranging from five to 10 years. Kathryn Johnston, 92, was killed by police gunfire during the 2006 raid at her home.

Police used a “no-knock” warrant to enter Johnston’s house to look for drugs. But prosecutors say officers found none and tried to cover up the mistake by planting baggies of marijuana.

U.S. District Judge Julie E. Carnes on Tuesday sentenced Smith to 10 years in federal prison. She sentenced Junnier to six years and Tesler to five.

Prosecutors earlier lowered their recommended sentences for Junnier and Smith.
They asked for about 10 years for Smith and roughly five years for Junnier because they said the men cooperated with authorities.

Tesler’s recommended sentence was not lowered, and was about 10 years.
But the judge said Tuesday that Tesler was a “minor participant overall” and lowered the sentence to five years. She said the government’s recommendations were “unduly harsh.”

All the men will get three years supervised release after they serve their sentences.
The Rev. Market Hutchins, spokesman for Johnston’s family, spoke by telephone to her niece and closest living relative, Sarah Dozier, 76, of Atlanta after the sentencing. “She certainly breathed a sigh of relief that there is nearly some resolution, particularly with regard to these officers,” he said.

Hutchins said Dozier was sympathetic to the officers’ families because she believes they were victims as well. “Her aspiration has always been justice and not a sense of revenge,” he said.