Family refuses to sign plea deal for cop involved in Ronald Greene’s death, documents show

UNION PARISH, La. (WAFB) – Documents obtained by the WAFB I-TEAM show prosecutors asked Ronald Greene’s family to sign a plea deal two weeks ago for a Louisiana State Trooper charged in his death. They refused.

This morning, retired soldier Kory York entered a no contest plea to greatly reduced charges in a case involving black driver Ronald Greene, who was beaten in northern Louisiana in May 2019.

“We’re being deceived, we’re being deceived, and this is condoned murder,” Mona Hardin, Ronald Greene’s mother, told the WAFB I-TEAM.

Initially, York was charged with negligent homicide and malfeasance. In September, prosecutors dropped the negligent homicide charge, the most serious charge York faced.

A month before this happened, the WAFB I-TEAM revealed that York was allowed to retire from the Louisiana State Police despite the serious charges against him.

Louisiana State Police Retirement System approved for WAFB; York retired with 27.10 years of credited service and receives monthly benefits of $6,982.36. The plea deal offered to York will allow him to avoid any prison time as he collects close to $7,000 a month.

Greene was killed in May 2019 when troopers attempted a traffic stop and Greene fled. He crashed his car after the pursuit and was alive and apologetic when soldiers caught him. Body camera footage leaked to the media months later showed Greene being brutally beaten as he pleaded for his life. York was filmed by body-worn cameras dragging Greene by her ankle shackles and forcing her to lie in the dirt.

Documents obtained by the WAFB I-TEAM reveal that prosecutors greatly reduced the charges against York, charging him with eight counts of battery. It’s a document that Greene’s mother, Mona Hardin, said she refused to sign.

“Why would we sign that?” Hardin told WAFB-TV. he said. “This is condoned murder.”

York’s defense comes with the following sentence:

1. Active, suspended with supervised probation, up to six months imprisonment
2. Fines and court costs
3. Special requirement of 160 hours of community service

“The lies and complicity cover-up continues,” Hardin said. “The dots were always connected…the sheer audacity of these government-paid officials working seamlessly with each other to connect the killer cops being let off the hook with my son Ronald Greene being kicked to the curb as if he were roadkill.”

The no-contest claim carries the same weight in the eyes of the court as a criminal allegation, but legal experts say it cannot be used to strengthen a civil case. Sources confirmed to WAFB I-TEAM that some of those subpoenaed for the hearing began receiving notices last week that they did not need to appear because a plea agreement may have been made.

Three of the five indictments unsealed following the death of Ronald Greene have been dismissed. Charges against Kory York and Union Parish Deputy Chris Harpin remain pending. According to Hardin’s legal team, the Greene family requested a court hearing.

Calls to District Attorney John Belton and special prosecutor Hugo Holland as details of this plea began to emerge last week went unanswered. We also left a message for Kory York’s attorney, Michael Small.

Outside the courthouse on Monday, Belton told The Advocate he sympathized with the family. Small also commented and said he believes they will prevail if this case goes to trial.

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