re: BR judge finds former BRPD cop guilty of charge that doesn’t exist

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BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - A post-conviction debacle in the 19th Judicial District was settled after a district judge chose to acquit a former officer of sexually inappropriate behavior with a woman he was sworn to protect and serve.

District judge Eboni Johnson Rose threw out malfeasance charges against former Baton Rouge Police officer Donald Steele Jr. Thursday, April 18, after she initially convicted him on the charge in late March.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys asked for that judgment to be put on hold one day after the judge issued the verdict.

At issue, they argued that the judge convicted Steele of “misdemeanor” grade malfeasance even though the charge is considered a felony in state law. Misdemeanor grade malfeasance does not exist.

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