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Justin Gregory
Craven, a former police officer in North Augusta, pleaded guilty
to misconduct in office on Monday and was sentenced to probation
as well as 80 hours of public service, local broadcaster WRDW
reported.
The felony charge was dropped as part of Monday's plea
agreement, WRDW said. Craven faced one year in prison with a
fine of up to $1,000, the Aiken Standard newspaper reported.
"We couldn't ask for a better outcome as far as the sentence is
concerned," Jack Swerling, Craven's attorney, told reporters.
"(He) got probation, no house arrest, and he's pretty much free
to go live his life."
The sentencing comes as law-enforcement agencies across the
United States face increasing scrutiny over their use of force
against minorities.
A grand jury in South Carolina indicted Craven in May on a
felony charge of firing his weapon into a vehicle while it was
occupied, killing an unarmed black man.
Craven had chased the motorist, Earnest Satterwhite, 68, for 13
miles (21 km) before stopping him on a dirt road behind his home
in February 2014, a prosecutor has said.
Craven then got out of his car and approached the motorist, and
fired at him several times through his car window, killing him,
authorities have said.
After a grand jury refused to indict Craven on a voluntary
manslaughter charge, officials pursued the felony firing charge,
which carried a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine
of $1,000.
Craven had admitted to firing into Satterwhite's car, according
to the arrest warrant. There had been a struggle at the car
window, the prosecutor said.
Swerling, Craven's Attorney, did not immediately respond to a
request for comment. State prosecutor Donnie Myers could not
immediately be reached for comment.
(Reporting by Eric M. Johnson in Seattle; Editing by Michael
Perry)
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