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Ex-Cops Sentenced For Neal Street Shooting

Posted: 11:55 am EST February 24, 2009Updated: 4:33 pm EST February 24, 2009

A judge sentenced ex-Atlanta police officers Jason R. Smith, Gregg Junnier and Arthur Tesler to jail Tuesday in connection with the botched drug raid that left Kathryn Johnston dead.

U.S. District Judge Julie Carnes sentenced Smith first, giving him 10 years to serve with three years probation. The sentence for Junnier was six years in prison plus three years supervised release. Tessler was ordered to serve five years in prison plus three years supervised release. All of the sentences are minus time already served.

All three must share the funeral costs that were paid for Johnston.

WSB-TV Channel 2 reporter Jeff Dore was in the courtroom when Carnes handed down the sentences.

The former police officers pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to violate civil rights resulting in death. Kathryn Johnston was killed by police gunfire during the 2006 raid.

SLIDESHOW: Neal Street Shooting Crime Scene

During the hearing Monday, Smith apologized for the shooting.

"I am very sorry for my conduct and apologize to everyone for what I did," Smith said. "There is no excuse for this conduct and I accept the sentence of this court."

"I pray daily for Ms. Johnston. I also pray other officers in Atlanta will have the moral fortitude I didn't have," Smith added.

The U.S. attorney's office had recommended that Smith serve about 12 and half years in federal prison and that Junnier and Tesler serve about 10 years. Prosecutors recommended that Smith and Junnier receive reduced sentences because they cooperated with authorities.

As a result of their cooperation, the court reduced Junnier's sentence by 40% and Smith’s sentence by 20%. Tesler did not provide substantial assistance in the investigation and received no sentence reduction on that ground, although his sentence was reduced based on his lesser role in the conspiracy, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

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