Former Camden Cop Sentenced in Evidence-Planting Scheme
By David Madden
CAMDEN, N.J. (CBS) -- A federal judge has sentenced a former Camden, NJ police officer to 20 months in prison for his role, along with three other cops, in planting evidence on drug defendants.
Kevin Parry, 32, of Brooklawn, NJ expressed remorse as the jail term was handed down.
Defense attorney William Hughes says Parry was a rookie when he was assigned to the anti-drug unit, where his problems began. Hughes called it a fair sentence, noting that the scheme came to a sudden end more than three years ago.
"(The sentence) was based upon the substantial cooperation (of Parry), which began the moment that he was approached by the FBI," Hugues says. "He didn't minimize. He did not cover. He didn't attempt to hide any of the conduct in which he was involved."
Parry also testified against Antonio Figueroa, the ringleader, who got 10 years in the scheme that involved unlawful searches, false police reports, planting drugs on people, and stealing money (see related story).
Parry pleaded guilty to civil rights violations early on, along with co-defendants Jason Stetser and Dan Morris, who will be sentenced later (another related story).
Officer Robert Bayard was acquitted. Parry is scheduled to begin doing his time in January.
