A judge recently issued a contentious sentence for former New York City police sergeant Eric Duran, prompting his legal team to question the judge’s impartiality, which they perceived as an “obvious anti-cop bias.” Attorney Andrew Quinn expressed surprise and disbelief at Bronx Supreme Court Justice Guy Mitchell’s decision, highlighting Mitchell’s longstanding history with Duran as a prosecutor and drug enforcement officer.
Quinn mentioned in an interview that the defense team had initially felt reassured about the trial due to Mitchell’s background in drug cases, believing he would understand the risks associated with drug enforcement. However, he has since voiced his disappointment with the judge’s ruling, labeling the 3 to 9-year prison sentence for Duran as “disgusting.” This sentence stemmed from an incident during a 2023 drug sting in which Duran threw a picnic cooler at a fleeing drug suspect.
Duran, a father to three children, opted for a bench trial after being charged with manslaughter and assault in a case brought by state Attorney General Letitia James’ office. Despite the defense’s arguments, Justice Mitchell found Duran guilty of second-degree manslaughter for recklessly causing the death of 30-year-old Eric Dupree. The incident occurred on August 23, 2023, as Dupree, a delivery driver with a criminal past, attempted to evade arrest after selling a small amount of crack cocaine. The thrown cooler made him lose control of his electric scooter and he ultimately crashed into a parked car.
Quinn noted that sentencing guidelines for such cases typically range from no jail time to 15 years, which adds to the controversy surrounding the judge’s decision.
Choosing a non-jury trial, Duran aimed for what he perceived as a fairer outcome. Quinn explained that the prevailing belief among police officers is that juries in the Bronx may not be trustworthy when it comes to cases involving law enforcement. Yet, he also expressed skepticism regarding judges, suggesting that trust in the judiciary may be waning as well.
Justice Mitchell has a diverse professional history, having served in various prosecutorial roles before being appointed as a judge by Mayor Bill de Blasio in 2015. He was later reappointed by current Mayor Eric Adams. His experience includes heading the criminal division at the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Justice and collaborating with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration on serious drug-related crimes.
