A Texas judge sentenced an Army sergeant convicted of murder in the fatal 2020 shooting of an armed Black Lives Matter (BLM) protester to 25 years in prison Tuesday, setting the stage for a controversial pardon by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
Abbott vowed to pardon Sgt. Daniel Perry, 35, before Travis County Criminal Court Judge Clifford Brown imposed his sentence.
Perry's attorneys asked Judge Brown for a 10-year sentence for the murder of U.S. Air Force veteran Garrett Foster, citing his lack of criminal history and post-traumatic stress disorder from serving in Afghanistan.
Described by District Attorney Guillermo Gonzalez as “a loaded gun, ready to go off at any perceived threat,” Perry faced up to 99 years in prison. During the trial, the defense called a forensic psychologist who said Perry was on the autism spectrum which may have contributed to his actions.
Prosecutors argued that Perry was fueled by racist beliefs and anti-BLM sentiment the night he shot Foster.
The New York Post has more on the fast-moving developments:
Perry was convicted of murder last month, prompting Republican Gov. Greg Abbott to pledge to pardon the former soldier and rein in “rogue District Attorneys.”
“After three long years, we're finally getting justice for Garrett,” the victim's mother, Sheila Foster, told the court Wednesday.
“Mr. Perry, I pray to God that one day, he will get rid of all this hate that is in your heart.”
Foster, 28, was carrying a legal AK-47 at a protest against police violence at the time of his death. Perry's attorneys argued at trial that he fired his handgun multiple times in self-defense after Foster raised his rifle at him, the Tribune said.
Witnesses said Foster hadn't pointed his rifle at anyone and was pushing his fiancée's wheelchair when Perry shot him.
Several of Perry's fellow soldiers took the stand to defend his reputation from the prosecution.
Ultimately, the jury rejected the defense's argument.
Conservatives like Texas Rep. Chip Roy and Gov. Abbott say the jury got it wrong. Abbott said he would sign a pardon as soon as an official request “hits my desk.”
Perry's lead attorney vowed to file an appeal following the sentence, claiming his client was the victim of “political prosecution.”
Unsealed court records showed Perry posted violent threats on social media. The jury was unaware of Perry's social media history during the trial.
The sentence came after the judge refused to grant Perry a new trial.
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Hopefully Perry will get his pardon from Abbott real quick. It’s getting pretty bad when a white shoots someone, especially if that person is black. The blm is nothing but a radical group of people that causes more problems than they are worth. There should be a bounty on them, that would help solve many of the problems, and damages they cause, and make America a better place to live. Maybe we need some more of that white supremacy that the leftists are complaining about. Might help clean up this country.
& that Marine in NYC subway Too