DOJ appeals dismissal of charges against ex-LMPD officers in Breonna Taylor case

In August, a federal judge dismissed serious felony charges against two former Louisville Metro Police officers, Joshua Jaynes and Kyle Meany, related to the 2020 raid that resulted in Breonna Taylor's death. The officers were indicted for obtaining a search warrant based on false information, which led to the botched raid. Although neither officer was present during the raid, the judge ruled that the warrant was not the direct cause of Taylor's death, attributing it instead to her boyfriend's actions when officers entered the apartment. The U.S. Department of Justice is now appealing the dismissal of charges, seeking to restore the serious allegations against Jaynes and Meany. If convicted, they could face life sentences. Jaynes is also facing additional charges for allegedly covering up the circumstances surrounding Taylor's death, which could lead to a 40-year prison sentence. Kelly Goodlett, another former officer involved in the case, has already been convicted for her role in falsifying the warrant, although her sentencing date remains unannounced. Meany faces a separate felony charge for lying to the FBI, which carries a potential five-year prison sentence. The case has drawn significant public attention, and Taylor's family has expressed intentions to appeal the judge's ruling alongside the DOJ. Meanwhile, a retrial for former officer Brett Hankison, who was involved in the raid, is scheduled for October, as his actions resulted in bullets entering neighboring apartments, although he did not directly strike Taylor.