Ex-Judge Says He Was "Inclined" To Reconsider Sentence of Cop Killer

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (WUSA) -- The judge who sentenced convicted cop killer Donovan Strickland to life in 1998 says he was "inclined to favor a reconsideration of the sentence," at the time a plea deal was accepted.

"There was nothing discussed beforehand that is not reflected in the record," said former circuit court judge Richard H. Sothoron Jr under questioning at a sentence reconsideration hearing in Prince George's County Friday.

Strickland's attorney, Michael S. Blumenthal, testified the plea deal had been made with "a wink and a nod" that the cop killer would get his sentence reduced to life with all but 50-years suspended at a future sentence reconsideration hearing as long as Strickland conducted himself as a "model prisoner". Instead, Sothoron refused to reconsider the sentence in a 2005 ruling.

Sothoron testified that the possibility of a reduced sentence was discussed at a meeting the day before the March 1998 sentencing with attorneys from both sides, but the former judge said that he "did not commit myself" to the terms.

Strickland was sentenced to life the next day at a hearing where there were at least 9 references by the judge to "reconsideration", according to a record of the hearing.

Strickland pled guilty to participating in the murder of Washington DC police officer Oliver Smith Jr. outside the officer's Forestville apartment complex in February of 1997.

Friday's hearing was attended by Smith's family, Washington Police Chief Cathy Lanier, and dozens of DC police officers.

The case was heard today after years of litigation and a February ruling by Maryland's Court of Appeals that Strickland should be granted another hearing to reconsider his sentence.

Strickland's attorneys took the case to Maryland's highest court after Sothoron refused to reconsider the sentence in 2005. Records of the hearing indicate Sothoron denied reconsideration because Strickland had been cited for a minor behavior infraction for using vulgar language while in prison.

Strickland's lawyers have been fighting for a reconsideration of the sentence ever since.

Sothoron retired from the bench in 2008.

Maryland is the only state that allows judges to reconsider sentences.

Prince George's County Circuit Courty judge Michael P. Whalen will decide Strickland's fate after the hearing.