Rod 2.0:Beta #gay #news #lgbt #gaynews

Former Officer Sentenced to 2 Yrs for Duanna Johnson Beating, Taxes

The former Memphis police officer captured on video surveillance beating a transgender woman in 2008 has been sentenced to two years in prison and two years probation for the assault and for tax evasion, reports the Commercial Appeal.

In August 2010, former Memphis Police Department Officer Bridges McRae plead guilty to violating the civil rights of Duanna Johnson. McRae also plead guilty to evading taxes between 2004 and 2008. McRae agreed to a two-year prison sentence.

Duanna Johnson was later killed in an unsolved shooting.

The 2008 beating happened while McRae was booking Johnson into the Shelby County Jail. Despite graphic surveillance video of McRae beating Johnson and the testimony of fellow police officers, McRae's April 2010 trial ended in a mistrial. The vote was 11-1 for guilty. McRae was facing up to ten years at retrial before his plea deal.

The altercation began after Johnson became upset because McRae repeatedly called her "Dwayne" and refused to call her "Duanna." Fellow officers testified, and the tape showed, McRae wrapping his handcuffs around his fist, repeatedly punching Johnson in the head and then using his pepper spray. "I love to fight," McRae boasted to officers.

Meanwhile: Civil suits are pending against the Memphis Police Department, the City of Memphis and Shelby County. And Duanna Johnson's killer or killers remain on the loose.

R20's complete coverage HERE.

WATCH: Former Officer Pleads Guilty in Duanna Johnson Beating

Only weeks before his retrial was scheduled to begin, former Memphis police officer Bridges McRae has plead guilty to violating the civil rights of transgender woman Duanna Johnson. McRae agreed to a two-year prison sentence.  Johnson was later killed in an unsolved shooting

The 2008 beating happened while McRae was booking Johnson into the Shelby County Jail. Despite graphic surveillance video of McRae beating Johnson and the testimony of fellow police officers, McRae's April 2010 trial ended in a mistrial. The vote was 11-1 for guilty. McRae was facing up to ten years and a retrial was scheduled for September.

The altercation began after Johnson became upset because McRae called her "Dwayne" and refused to call her Duanna. Fellow officers testified, and the tape showed, McRae wrapping his handcuffs around his fist, repeatedly punching Johnson in the head and then using his pepper spray. "I love to fight," McRae boasted to officers.

McRae's attorney says the 2-year sentence is "reasonable". Meanwhile: Civil suits are pending against the Memphis Police Department, the City of Memphis and Shelby County. And Duanna Johnson's killer remains on the loose. Watch it  WHEN YOU JUMP ...

WATCH: Mistrial Declared in Police Beating of Duanna Johnson

Despite graphic surveillance video and the testimony of fellow police officers, a mistrial is declared in the federal trial of former Memphis police officer Bridges McRae, charged with violating the civil rights of transgender woman Duanna Johnson. Johnson was later killed in an unrelated and unsolved shooting

The Commercial Appeal:

After four days and about 20 hours of deliberations, a weary federal court jury on Monday announced for a second time that it was deadlocked in the case of a former Memphis police officer accused of beating a transgender prisoner in 2008. U.S. Dist. Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson, who told jurors on Friday to keep trying, reluctantly declared a mistrial this time and said he would rule later this week on prosecutors' request for a new trial date for Bridges "Sutton" McRae.

The Commercial Appeal and WREG report the verdict was 11 to 1.

The altercation at the Shelby County Jail began after Johnson became upset and uncooperative because McRae called her "Dwayne" and refused to call her Duanna. Fellow officers testified, and the tape showed, McRae wrapping his handcuffs around his fist, repeatedly punching Johnson in the head and then using his pepper spray. "I love to fight," McRae boasted to officers.

WREG interviews one of the jurors who could barely contain her anger. Watch that and the surveillance video AFTER THE JUMP ...

Witnesses Describe Former Officer's Beating of Duanna Johnson

Graphic testimony in the federal trial of former Memphis Police Officer Bridges McRae, charged with violating the civil rights of transgender woman Duanna Johnson in a February 2008 beating captured on video surveillance. Johnson was later killed in an unrelated shooting.

A former officer testifies the videotaped altercation was a "beatdown", reports the Commercial Appeal.

"Testifying for the prosecution, James Swain said he watched officer Bridges McRae use his metal handcuffs like brass knuckles to punch the prisoner several times in the head in the sally port of the jail. Swain said the incident began when the prisoner, Dwayne Johnson, refused to be fingerprinted unless McRae called him by his feminine name, Duanna. 'McRae kept hitting Johnson multiple times in the head,' said Swain, a probationary officer released by the department. 'Johnson was bleeding profusely from the head. It was a beatdown. It never should have happened. ... (McRae) walked by and said "I love to fight." He was very aggressive and had his chest puffed out. I was speechless.'

Jurors heard a play-by-play from a jailer, reports WREG.

"The jailer said after the altercation, Johnson was bleeding from the forehead. She demonstrated how McRae used handcuffs as a weapon to hit Johnson in the face.
The jailer said Johnson wasn't cooperating with the officer and was refusing to be finger printed because McRae would not call her by the female name, Duana. She said Duana waved her arms but did not strike back."

Johnson's mother, Hazel Skinner, was in the courtroom and was outraged by the testimony: "I hope justice will be prevailed because that was uncalled for. You don't treat a human being like that not because he didn't stand up and answer to a name that's not his name."

After an FBI investigation, Bridges McRae was indicted on civil rights violations and fired from the Memphis Police Department. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison.

On November 9 2008, Duanna Johnson was found shot to death. Three men were seen running from the murder scene and were never found. The vast majority of murders of black and Latina transgender women are unsolved. Johnson's case, sadly, is no exception

Background:
Former Officer on Trial for Duanna Johnson Beating

Personal injury lawyers

Free accident claims advice

Former Memphis Police Officer on Trial for Duanna Johnson Beating

More than a year after her death will there be justice for Duanna Johnson? She was the Memphis transgender woman whose beating by members of the Memphis Police Department in February 2008 was captured by a surveillance camera. Johnson was later killed in an unrelated shooting.

On Monday, former Memphis Police Officer Bridges McRae went on trial for federal civil rights violations. On February 12 2008, Johnson was booked on prostitution charges. In the waiting room at the police station, words were exchanged between she and McRae,. Videotape shows the officer punching Johnson when she was restrained and sitting down. McRae was indicted on civil rights violations and fired from his job.

Johnson was found shot to death on November 9th 2008. Three men were seen running from the murder scene and were never found. The vast majority of murders of black transgender women are unsolved and Johnson's case, sadly, is no exception.

Via @HardCorps80204, watch WREG's report on the opening day of the federal trial of former Officer McRae WHEN YOU JUMP ...