Detroit (WWJ) -- A teenager involved in the killing of an Oakland County Deputy Sheriff made a plea in court Monday.
Karim Moore, 18, of Clinton Township pleaded guilty to Conducting a Criminal Enterprise, Receiving and Concealing Stolen Property-Motor Vehicle, and Felony Firearm in the death of Deputy Sheriff Brad Reckling, 30. Reckling was shot and killed on Detroit's east side last June.
Moore is facing three to 20 years in prison for his role in Reckling's death. A number of other teens are also charged in the case. Moore is not the one charged with pulling the trigger. That would be Ramon DeBose of Clinton Township, according to prosecutors. He's facing life in prison.
Late on the night of June 22, Reckling was in an unmarked patrol car searching for an SUV that had been reported stolen from the Red Oaks Water Park in Madison Heights earlier that day.
Detroit police said Reckling was behind the stolen Chevy Equinox when suspects jumped out and fired shots at him.
Reckling was hit in the head, chest and torso.
"It was an ambush," Sheriff Mike Bouchard said at a news conference the next day.
DPD and Michigan State Police set up a perimeter in the area, and three people were taken into custody.
In July, Moore was charged with three counts of lying to police during a violent crime investigation and one count of resisting arrest in connection with the case — but no one else was charged at that time. Prosecutors later dropped one of the lying to police charges.
Speaking at a news conference late last year, Former Detroit Police Chief James White thanked the prosecutor's office for the countless hours work put into an extremely difficult case.
"Deputy Reckling was a hero, he was an absolute hero," White said. "He laid his life on the line. He was in our city pursuing someone for auto theft, stumbled onto something much bigger than he even thought — which will be revealed later — and made the ultimate sacrifice."
“When we started working on this case, we had no idea that it would lead where it did. Deputy Recking, who thought he was simply recovering a stolen car, was really pulled into what turned out to be a violent and far reaching, car theft and carjacking criminal enterprise,” said Prosecutor Kym Worthy.
“Holding the individuals accountable in the senseless murder of Deputy Brad Reckling is one of our highest priorities,” Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard said. “We appreciate all the work that the Detroit Police Department and the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office has done to date and look forward to the perpetrators receiving the highest punishment possible. While that will never fill the void of husband, father, son, brother and friend to many, it will at least provide a sliver of justice.”
Reckling, a nine-year veteran of the sheriff's department, was a husband and father of three daughters with another child on the way, according to the sheriff's office.