FARMERVILLE, La. — On Monday, a Louisiana state trooper entered a no contest plea to lesser charges related to the fatal arrest of Ronald Greene, a Black motorist, in 2019. This development marks the first conviction in a case that has drawn significant national concern and scrutiny regarding police brutality.
Kory York was initially indicted on serious felony charges, alongside four other officers, after body-camera footage revealed him dragging Greene, who was restrained, and forcing him face-down on the ground before Greene became unresponsive. However, instead of pursuing the original charges of negligent homicide and malfeasance, York’s plea resulted in a misdemeanor battery conviction, a sentence of probation for one year, and a commitment to testify against the remaining officer awaiting trial.
This plea deal was met with intense disapproval from Greene’s family, who claimed they were misinformed about the agreement and deprived of their opportunity to see the serious charges adjudicated in court. “As a victim’s family, we deserve a greater voice in this process,” expressed Mona Hardin, Greene’s mother, who refused to consent to the plea agreement put forth by prosecutors. “This shouldn’t be the conclusion,” she stated in a crowded courtroom, calling it unjust.
District Attorney John Belton refrained from commenting on whether justice had been achieved in the case, mentioning that it remains an open investigation. York’s plea, while essentially a guilty admission, does not count as a conviction that could impact the wrongful-death lawsuit brought by Greene’s family. Furthermore, at 51, he will still receive his pension, amounting to nearly $83,000 annually, following his retirement from the Louisiana State Police in August.
“This is clearly a win for Kory York,” said his attorney, Mike Small, emphasizing that the outcome does not signify an acknowledgment of guilt.
The case has been laden with controversy, enveloped in allegations of a state police cover-up and systemic racism, which have initiated ongoing federal investigations. It reached a boiling point when then-Governor John Bel Edwards described Greene’s treatment as both criminal and racist, leading to threatened impeachment against him by Republican lawmakers over the state’s handling of the incident. However, the legislative inquiry was ultimately dropped without questioning Edwards.
From the start, the circumstances surrounding Greene’s death raised doubts. Authorities initially claimed he died in a car accident at the end of a high-speed pursuit near Monroe, a narrative immediately challenged by a doctor at the emergency room. Moreover, a state police accident report failed to mention the use of force during the arrest, and a significant delay of 462 days ensued before the state police considered launching an internal investigation. Throughout this period, officials, including the governor, opted to withhold the release of the body-camera footage.
The critical body-camera video was obtained by the media in 2021, revealing a disturbing scene where officers surrounded Greene as he appeared to surrender, imploring for mercy and expressing fear. Officers repeatedly used stun guns on him, while one restrained him on the ground, applying a chokehold and striking him. That officer, Chris Hollingsworth, who was viewed as the primary perpetrator, tragically passed away in a car crash hours after being informed of his impending termination from the police force.
In the footage, York is seen applying significant pressure on Greene, who was already restrained, keeping him in a prone position while issuing orders. Experts indicated that such restraint methods can dangerously compromise breathing. Though York faced a 50-hour suspension for his role, investigators ultimately could not determine the exact cause of Greene’s death. Autopsy findings indicated multiple contributing elements, including the repeated use of stun guns, physical struggles, prone restraints, blunt force injuries, and complications from cocaine use, yet a definitive cause remained elusive.
This ambiguity led prosecutors to dismiss the negligent homicide charges against York last month and instead pursue a plea resolution regarding the remaining felony charges. Greene’s death is part of a broader pattern of excessive force used by Louisiana state troopers against Black individuals, prompting an ongoing civil rights investigation by the U.S. Justice Department. Federal prosecutors are still deliberating whether to pursue charges related to these incidents after a prolonged FBI investigation.