PWB Police Without Borders 4th Quarter 2016 " More on the Belt"

policewithoutorders.com 4 th quarter <strong>2016</strong>
officer and was beloved,” Lock said.
“There was more of an outcry about
why he was being charged versus
why not.” At the same time, Lock
said, there was little public
sympathy for the 41-year-old
victim, Anthony Smashum, a black
man who had a long rap sheet,
including convictions for rape and
assault.
Lock said he believes these factors
delayed the prosecution and
ultimately contributed to lessening
the charge against Taharka.
Chatham County District Attorney
Meg Heap, who replaced Lock in
the elected post, downgraded the
charges from voluntary
manslaughter, agreeing that
Taharka could plead guilty instead
to the less-serious charge of
involuntary manslaughter, which
carries a maximum of 10 years.
Heap said in an interview that the
lesser charge was a better fit for the
facts of the case. But she said her
office made no promises about a
reduced sentence, leaving that up to
the judge.
At sentencing in 2009, Superior
Court Judge John E. Morse Jr. said
he had to strike “the most delicate
balance.” In assessing the fatal
incident, he said, “All I can glean
from what I have read and heard up
to this particular point is that it was
not malicious and ill-wanton.” He
told Taharka moments later, “What
you have to deal with from a day-today
basis as an officer of the law, no
one can stand in your shoes other
than you.”
Morse ordered Taharka to spend
three months in jail and nine
months confined to his home except
when he was working. If he follows
the terms of his probation of nine
years, his record will be wiped
clean.
Messages left for Taharka’s lawyers
were not returned, nor were a series
of e-mails requesting comment.
Taharka resigned from the police
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