Philly DA files motion to reconsider sentence for former officer convicted of voluntary manslaughter

A jury convicted Eric Ruch of voluntary manslaughter in September.
Tuesday, November 29, 2022
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- The Philadelphia District Attorney's office wants a judge to reconsider the sentence given to a former city police officer for killing an unarmed Black man while on duty.

Eric Ruch was convicted in September of voluntary manslaughter for the 2017 death of Dennis Plowden. A jury found him not guilty of third-degree murder.
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Ruch was convicted of 11.5 to 23 months behind bars for the deadly shooting.

District Attorney Larry Krasner called the sentence "concerning" and "troubling" because the standard range is a minimum of 54 months in prison.

"We respectfully request that the Court reconsider its sentence, and sentence the defendant within the state standard guidelines. His conduct warranted such a sentence, and it would be the just result," he said.
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The felony manslaughter charge carries a term of up to 20 years in prison.

Ruch was on trial for the shooting death of 25-year-old Plowden following a high-speed chase through Germantown.

Dennis Plowden

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