Suspect in Georgia officer death pleaded to prior gun crime

EASTMAN, Ga. (AP) — Court records show a man charged with fatally shooting a Georgia police officer was sentenced to probation for a gun crime just four months ago.

Royheem Deeds is charged with murder in the Saturday slaying of Eastman Patrol Officer Timothy Smith. Records in neighboring Telfair County show 24-year-old Deeds was released from jail in April after he pleaded guilty to a single count of aggravated assault.

Deeds was jailed in rural Telfair County from December 11 until April 4 after he was indicted on charges that he had fired a gun at a man and two children.

Court records show six counts against Deeds, including those involving the children, were dropped when he pleaded guilty to assault. Deeds was released from jail and sentenced to five years on probation.