scottyz
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SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - A sheriff's deputy who was videotaped shooting an unarmed
Iraq War veteran after a car chase will be charged with attempted voluntary manslaughter, authorities said Tuesday.
The decision to charge Deputy Ivory J. Webb, 45, was announced by San Bernardino County District Attorney Michael A. Ramos.
Sheriff Gary Penrod said Webb will remain on paid administrative leave during the investigation into the shooting of Air Force Senior Airman Elio Carrion, 21.
"I respect the decision of the district attorney's office," Penrod said.
It is the first time the county's prosecutors have filed charges against a lawman for an on-duty shooting.
Webb's arraignment was set for Wednesday. If convicted, he could face up to 18 1/2 years in prison.
The charge includes the special allegations of infliction of great bodily injury and use of a firearm, Ramos said at a news conference. In California, such enhancements can result in extra prison time.
An attempted-murder charge was not filed because there was no finding of malice, Ramos said
The
FBI is investigating possible civil rights violations. The sheriff's department conducted its own probe and gave the results to the district attorney's office.
At the time, the sheriff said the videotape "arouses a lot of suspicion," but he pointed out that it is fuzzy and contains gaps.
Ramos assigned two top attorneys to review the shooting and requested an FBI enhancement of the videotape.
Charging Webb was a "difficult decision," Ramos said, but enhancing the videotape "made our decision easier."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060307/ap_on_re_us/airman_shooting;_ylt=Ai8qTiuTUomrhw45pynEhbxvzwcF;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--
Seems like that is a pretty light charge for shooting a unarmed man who was complying 3 times at point blank range. He was not driving the car involved in the high speed pursuit.