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| Ex-Sheriff Convicted of Murder |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 07/12/2002 |
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A prosecutor vowed to make sure a former sheriff never sees the outside of prison following his murder conviction for ordering the slaying of his successor - a reformer who pledged to clean up corruption in the department. Sidney Dorsey's conviction on Wednesday capped an 18-month effort to prosecute the killers of Derwin Brown, who defeated Dorsey in a bitter runoff election. He was gunned down in his driveway on Dec. 15, 2000, just days before taking office. Prosecutors charged that Dorsey recruited four men to kill Brown, 46, so he could retake the sheriff's post in DeKalb County. With rumors abounding that he was involved in Brown's killing, Dorsey eventually decided not to run. Dorsey, 62, faces a mandatory life sentence and the judge could toughen that by stripping any possibility of parole. 'I'm going to do everything ... in my power to make sure he never gets out of jail,' prosecutor J. Tom Morgan said. 'This defendant should die in a Georgia prison.' Morgan broke into tears after a jury announced Dorsey's conviction for murder and 11 other counts charging him with presiding over widespread corruption in the suburban Atlanta sheriff's department. The victim's wife, Phyllis Brown, sobbed and hugged her son. Then she dialed a number on her mobile phone with a trembling hand and said, 'They got him.' A few minutes later, she rushed up to Morgan gave him a hug, and thanked him. Morgan left the courtroom in tears and returned about five minutes later. Defense attorneys said they would appeal his convictions, and Dorsey's cousin predicted success. 'We know it is not the final verdict,' said the Rev. Carl Dorsey. 'I'm not surprised so much as stunned, because the evidence that was presented by the prosecution, in our minds, was not sufficient.' The jury deliberated for two and a half days before returning the verdict. Dorsey stared at each juror as they verbally agreed to the verdict, but showed no emotion. Dorsey was acquitted of two bribery counts and a charge that he forced employees to campaign for him on county time. Superior Court Judge Cynthia Becker said she would sentence Dorsey in a couple of weeks. |
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