A man acquitted of murder and attempted murder in the shooting death of a New York Police Officer during a Brooklyn traffic stop will serve 15-years in prison for weapons possession, a judge ruled Wednesday.
Robert Ellis was convicted last month of criminal possession of a weapon in connection with the July, 2007 shooting death of 23-year-old Officer Russel Timoshenko. His partner, now-Detective Herman Yan, was wounded in the Crown Heights incident.
A judge sentenced Ellis to three, 15-year terms for the weapons conviction, and the terms will be served concurrently – meaning Ellis will spend 15 years total in prison. Police officers and Timoshenko’s family had strongly criticized that decision.
Ellis was one of three men accused of shooting the officers when they were caught driving a stolen SUV containing illegal weapons.
Prosecutors said a second man, Dexter Bostic shot and killed Timoshenko while Ellis simultaneously shot Yan. They said defendant Lee Woods was the driver. Ellis was acquitted of murder and attempted murder earlier this week. Woods is still awaiting a verdict in the case.
