Date: 12-08-2017

Case Style:

Case Number: 2:16-cr-00378-DCN

Judge: David Norton

Court: United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina

Plaintiff's Attorney: Jared Fishman, Rose Gibson, Eric J Klumb, Nathan Stuart Williams

Defendant's Attorney: Shaun Kent, Don McCune, Andy Savage

Description: Charleston, SC - COP WHO SHOT BLACK MOTORIST IN THE BACK DURING TRAFFIC STOP SENTENCED TO 20-YEARS IN PRISON

The United States of America charged Michael Slager, age 36, with:

Count: 1 Citation: 18:242.F Offense Level: 4

DEPRIVE CIVIL RIGHTS while acting under color of law as an officer with the North Charleston Police Department, shot Walter Scott without legal justification, willfully depriving him of the right, secured and protected by the Constitution and laws of the United states, to be free from the use of unreasonable force by a law enforcement officer. The offense involved the use of a dangerous weapon, and an attempt to kill, and resulted in bodily injury to, and the death of, Walter Scott all in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 242
Count: 2 Citation: 18:924C.F Offense Level: 4

VIOLENT CRIME/DRUGS/MACHINE GUN knowing used, carried, and discharged a firearm during and in relation to a felony crime of violence for which he may be prosecuted in a court of the United States; that is, the defendant used, carried, and discharged a Glock Model 21, .45 caliber pistol, during and in relation to a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 242, as charged in Count 1 all in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(iii)
Count: 3 Citation: 18:1512B.F Offense Level: 4

INTIMIDATION OR FORCE AGAINST WITNESS knowingly engaged in misleading conduct toward another person with the intent to hinder, delay, and prevent the communication to a federal law federal offense charged in Count 1. That is, defendant MICHAEL SLAGER knowingly and intentionally misled South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) investigators in statements he provided in connection with SLED'S investigation of the police-involved shooting of Walter Scott on April 4, 2015 . Specifically, defendant MICHAEL SLAGER knowingly misled SLED investigators by falsely stating that he (SLAGER) fired his weapon at Scott while Scott was coming forward at him with a Taser. In truth and in fact, as defendant MICHAEL SLAGER then well knew, he (SLAGER)repeatedly fired his weapon at Scott when Scott was running away from him all in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1512 (b)(3)

The government claimed that Slaper shot Walter Scott, age 50, who was stopped by Slager for a traffic violation. Scott attempted to run away from Sager and was shot in the back. Scott was black and was unarmed.

The incident was captured on video.

Slager claimed self-defense based on his claim that Scott grabbed his stun gun.

Outcome: Defendant sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

Comments: