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

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

This morning, retired trooper Corey York entered a no contest plea to charges that were sharply reduced in the case involving Ronald Greene, a black motorist who was beaten in North Louisiana in May 2019.

“We’re being lied to, we’re being deceived, and this is murder by acquiescence,” Mona Hardin, mother of Ronald Greene, told WAFB I-TEAM.

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

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

The Louisiana State Police Retirement System confirmed to WAFB that York retired with 27.10 years of credited service and receives a monthly benefit of $6,982.36. The plea deal offered to York would allow him to avoid jail time as he makes about $7,000 a month.

Greene was killed in May 2019 when officers attempted a traffic stop and Greene fled. During the pursuit, he crashed his car, and when the police caught up with him, he was alive and apologizing. Body camera footage leaked to the media months later showed Greene being brutally beaten as he begged for his life. York was filmed on body cameras as he dragged Green by his ankle shackles and forced him to lie in the dirt.

Documents obtained by the WAFB I-TEAM show prosecutors dramatically 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 this,” Hardin told WAFB-TV. “This is justifiable homicide.”

York’s request contains the following sentence:

1. Parish jail for up to six months, suspended and active supervised probation.
2. Fine and court costs
3. Special condition: 160 hours of community service.

“The lies and cover-up of complicity continue,” Hardin said. “The dots are always connected…the sheer audacity of these government officials working in concert with each other to let killer cops off the hook, and my son Ronald Greene being kicked to the side of the road like he was a roadkill.”

A no-contest plea carries the same weight in the court’s eyes as a guilty plea, but legal experts say it cannot be used to strengthen a civil case. Sources confirmed to the WAFB I-TEAM that some of those who were summoned to appear in court last week began receiving notices that they did not have to appear as a plea agreement may have been worked out.

Of the five charges brought after Ronald Greene’s death, three were dismissed. Charges against Corey York and Union Parish Deputy Chris Harpin remain in effect. In court, Greene’s family asked for a trial, Hardin’s lawyers said.

Calls to District Attorney John Belton and special prosecutor Hugo Holland were not returned last week when details of the allegation began to emerge. We also left messages with Corey York’s attorney, Michael Small.

Outside the courthouse Monday, Belton told his lawyer he sympathized with the family. Small also commented on the situation and said that he believes they would have won if the case had gone to trial.

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