Eric J. DeValkenaere, a former Kansas City police detective, has been sent to a Missouri prison to start serving his sentence after an appeals court upheld his conviction in the shooting death of a Black man. The news comes after a long legal battle and is a reminder of the ongoing issue of police brutality against people of color.
Since October 17, DeValkenaere was incarcerated in the Platte County jail after his conviction regarding the murder of Cameron Lamb in 2019 was upheld by the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, as reported by The Kansas City Star.
According to Karen Pojmann, a representative from the Missouri Department of Corrections, he was transferred from the jail on Wednesday and taken to the Western Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center located in St. Joseph.
At the age of 44, DeValkenaere, a Caucasian man, was convicted of second-degree involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action in Jackson County in 2021. As a result, he was given a six-year prison sentence.
The judge in Jackson County made an uncommon ruling by permitting DeValkenaere to stay out on bond for nearly two years as he appealed his conviction. This decision was a rarity, and it allowed DeValkenaere to remain free during the appeals process. A news article about the case explains that more information can be found by following the link provided.
According to Maj. Erik Holland, the Platte County Sheriff’s Office spokesman, who oversees the county jail, DeValkenaere has been moved by the Department of corrections and is no longer in their custody.
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