Gwinnett County, Ga. (June 14, 2019) – The Gwinnett African-American Caucus is outraged over the egregious injustice that has transpired with the recent sentencing of former Gwinnett Police Sgt. Michael Bongiovanni. While Bongiovanni pleaded nolo contendere to the serious charges against him, essentially not admitting or denying guilt, it does not change the fact he is caught on tape engaging in inappropriate and criminal actions or that he falsified official reports to cover for his actions. And it does not change the fact he violated his oath of office and brutally assaulted an unarmed motorist.
We are disgusted that Gwinnett District Attorney Danny Porter did not seek prison time, instead recommending what Bongiovanni’s own attorney described in yesterday’s AJC article as “the trifecta” — no prison time, no admission of guilt and being granted the first-offender status.
We are further dismayed that Judge Warren Davis allowed him to plead nolo contendere and fully accepted the prosecutor’s recommendation. While Bongiovanni and his attorney might have viewed the outcome as a win, we see it as a loss for the Gwinnett community. The Caucus views this outcome as a trifecta of leniency that will result in a record wiped clean in 3 years due to Bongiovanni being granted the first-offender status. His time as an officer makes no difference if he did not serve with honor, respect, and professional ethics.
This sentencing of Bongiovanni is a disgrace to the victim, Demetrius Hollins, his family and the entire Gwinnett community. It sends a message that the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s office and the Gwinnett court system do not find Mr. Hollins’ life and body worthy of his violator serving prison time. This sentencing also sends a clear message to other officers that they need not be concerned with possible prison time even if they commit brutal, outrageous violence against unarmed residents of the county. This sentencing discourages public confidence in the justice system within Gwinnett, especially by Gwinnett’s African American community; of which Mr. Hollins belongs. Outcomes like this further perpetuate and give credence to the belief of systemic bias within the criminal justice system.
There is no place for this type of injustice in the county. Gwinnett’s citizens deserve and demand fairness as it relates to our law enforcement, prosecutors and court system.
Gwinnett African American Caucus 