White officer gets probation in black driver's shooting

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A white South Carolina police officer who was charged with a felony for shooting and killing a black driver at the end of a chase took a plea deal today and was sentenced to three years of probation.

Justin Craven, 27, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor misconduct in office, multiple media outlets reported. A prosecutor wanted the North Augusta police officer charged with voluntary manslaughter, which carries up to 30 years in prison, but a grand jury refused to indict Craven. He was later charged with a different felony.

Craven's plea comes amid a nationwide debate over the use of force and how white police officers treat black people, fueled by high-profile incidents including the fatal shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., and Freddie Gray's death after he was injured in a Baltimore police van.

The death of 68-year-old Ernest Satterwhite was captured on video from Craven's dashboard camera. The Associated Press requested the footage nearly two years ago and eventually sued the State Law Enforcement Division, which refused to release the video until after Craven's plea today.