3 ex-Atlanta cops sent to prison

ATLANTA, Feb. 24 (UPI) -- Three former Atlanta police officers were sent to federal prison Tuesday for the shooting death of a 92-year-old woman.

Chief U.S. District Judge Julie E. Carnes sentenced Jason R. Smith, 36, of Oxford, Ga., to 10 years in prison, Gregg Junnier, 42, of Woodstock, Ga., to six years and Arthur Tesler, 42, of Acworth, Ga., to five years. Each also will serve three years of supervised release following his prison term, and collectively to pay $8,180 in restitution for the costs of Johnston's funeral and burial.

The officers were convicted of conspiring to violate Kathryn Johnston's civil rights.

Johnston was fatally shot at her home Nov. 21, 2006, during the execution of a search warrant obtained by the defendants based upon false information.

Junnier and Smith pleaded guilty to the federal charge, as well as to voluntary manslaughter and related state charges in Fulton County, Ga., on April 26, 2007. Tesler pleaded guilty to the federal charge last Oct. 30, after his earlier conviction in state court was overturned.

"The Justice Department is committed to vigorously prosecuting law enforcement officers who willfully disregard the Constitution and abuse their authority to violate the rights of others," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Loretta King. "This sort of unlawful behavior, resulting in Ms. Johnston's tragic death, undermines the efforts of law enforcement officers who honorably perform their duties."