Charges to stand against former State Trooper in the death of Ronald Greene

UNION PARISH (KTVE/KARD) -- On Tuesday, April 23, 2024, the Louisiana Supreme Court decided that former Louisiana State Police trooper, Kory York, must face the most serious charges stemming from the death of Ronald Greene. According to The Advocate, the state’s high court in a 6-0 vote declined to hear an appeal from York over a judge’s refusal to withdraw the indictment against him.

York reportedly faces Negligent Homicide and Malfeasance for his alleged role in the fatal high-speed chase that resulted in Greene's demise. According to reports, a state grand jury indicted York among a handful of LSP troopers and a Union Parish deputy, Chris Harpin. York and Harpin are the only remaining defendants in the case.

District Attorney John Belton reportedly agreed to drop charges against Lt. John Clary in exchange for cooperation. According to reports, Judge Thomas Rogers of the state’s 3rd Judicial District, who denied York’s bid to quash the indictment against him, did toss the charges against former Trooper Dakota DeMoss and Capt. John Peters.

Greene's family was initially told that his death stemmed from the result of injuries that he sustained in a high-speed chase crash; however, in May 2021, a body camera video was published by The Associated Press that showed several law enforcement officials on the scene, and State Police allegedly acknowledged that Greene did not die in a crash.

According to reports, the video showed officers tasing Greene, then beating and dragging him by his ankles while facedown and shackled. York was featured in the video and his attorney, Mike Small, argued that York’s indictment should be thrown out.

An expert witness, Seth Stoughton, was allowed to review York's statement that was given as part of an internal State Police probe. According to reports, York's attorney argued that allowing Stoughton to hear the interview as part of his review of case materials violated York's Fifth Amendment rights.

Judge Rodgers advised that Stoughton's statement focused nearly entirely on his review of body-camera footage. According to reports, Belton and Assistant District Attorney Hugo Holland, who are prosecuting the case, acknowledged that the report should not have been sent to Stoughton. The state law advises that statements mentioned in internal investigations cannot be used against law enforcement officers in a criminal proceeding.

During the hearing, officials reportedly did not explain why the material was included; however, they did acknowledge that Stoughton did not reference the disputed statements in his testimony to the grand jury.