Former trooper convicted on reduced charges in Ronald Greene case
Leader photo by Nancy Bergeron
Protesters demonstrate outside the Union Parish courthouse just before a hearing in which former state trooper Kory York pleaded no contest to eight counts of simple battery, concluding his part of the long-standing case surrounding the 2019 in-custody death of Ronald Greene.
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A former state trooper originally charged with homicide in the deadly arrest of Black motorist Ronald Greene will not see jail time after accepting a plea deal on lesser charges Monday.
Retired Louisiana State Police trooper Kory York pleaded no contest to eight misdemeanor counts of simple battery in 3rd Judicial District court in Farmerville — the first convictions to arise from the deadly 2019 incident.
York was sentenced to one year of supervised probation, a $1,000 fine and 160 hours of community service.
The amended charges and plea were part of a "case termination agreement' between 3rd Judicial District Attorney John Belton's office and York's attorney.
Greene's family appeared outrage by the agreement at Monday's proceedings. Protests continued outside the courthouse after the hearing.
The Greene case has been significantly whittled down since it began. Out of five officers originally charged in Greene's death, now charges remain against only one, Union Parish Sheriff's Deputy Chris Harpin. Charges have previously been dropped against three other state troopers.
Greene died May 10, 2019, alongside a rural Union Parish road after leading state police on a high-speed chase that began in Ouachita Parish. Greene was Black; the officers, white.
Troopers’ body camera footage released almost two years later appears to show officers beating, kicking, and pepper spraying Greene after he was subdued until he became unresponsive.
York was originally indicted on a felony count of negligent homicide, but that charge was dropped in September.
