DETROIT (WWJ) - A Wayne County Circuit Court judge has sentenced a former Michigan State Police trooper to 5 to 15 years for the death of a teen in Detroit.
Mark Bessner apologized Monday to the family of 15-year-old Damon Grimes, who was joyriding on an ATV when Bessner shot him with a Taser, causing him to crash and die.
Tearful before the court, Bessner said he was "truly sorry" and would go back in time and change things if he could.
Speaking directly to Bessner, Judge Margaret Van Houten explained why she went beyond the sentencing guidelines of 19 to 38 months in prison.
"You abused the public trust placed in police officers by your actions that day," Van Houten said. "Your actions make it more difficult for the thousands of men and women who put on a uniform and badge every day to go out and perform their duties. It is the few officers like you who have caused the distrust of police officers that plagues our community in Detroit, the state of Michigan and throughout the country."
Bessner said he believed the teen had a gun, feared for this life and was forced to make a split-second decision when Grimes refused to stop.
As it turned out, Grimes was unarmed.
Delivering a victim impact statement prior to sentencing, Grimes' mother called Bessner's actions "vicious."
"We will not see (Damon) graduate or have kids, you took him from us — how would you feel if this was your child?" she asked.
Bessner was suspended, then resigned from the police force following the incident. This was his second trial after the first jury was deadlocked.
Reporting from the courthouse, WWJ's Charlie Langon said Bessner is expected to appeal.
