Convicted IMPD cop killer gets no additional time in prison following resentencing

INDIANAPOLIS– The man convicted of killing Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer Breann Leath returned to court on Friday to learn his new prison sentence after the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled his previous sentence was done in error.

Members of law enforcement, as well as Leath’s friends and family, were outraged by the initial sentence handed down last year. They’re no less frustrated today after a new judge refused to give the convicted killer any additional time in prison.

In April 2024, Elliahs Dorsey was sentenced to a 40-year sentence, including 25 years in prison, along with 15 years of probation. At that time, Dorsey had served 1,943 days in jail prior to the trial, and the 40-year sentence was included after the time already served.

A jury convicted Dorsey of reckless homicide, but not murder, for killing an IMPD officer and attempting to kill his girlfriend during a domestic disturbance in 2020.

The first sentence handed down by Judge Mark Stoner angered many in the community.

“This is a disgrace. It’s a miscarriage of justice,” said Indy FOP President Rick Snyder in April 2024.

“I’m shocked and disappointed,” said Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett in April 2024.

A year later, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Stoner wrongfully reduced a criminal confinement charge in the case from a Level 3 to a Level 6 felony and allowed Dorsey to be re-sentenced.

Prosecutors asked for 16 years to be added to Dorsey’s punishment.

“Great deference must be given to a trial court judge,” said Marion County Judge James Snyder.

Snyder agreed to the maximum 16-year sentence on the criminal confinement charge, but then ran it concurrently to the previous sentence, which means Dorsey will not serve extra time behind bars.

“That’s shameful and shame on this judge today for missing the opportunity to correct a true injustice that occurred in Indianapolis,” said Snyder.

For his part, Dorsey’s attorney was pleased with the judge’s ruling.

“I want to be clear that doesn’t in any way diminish the loss of Breann Leath to the community,” said attorney Ray Casanova.

Leath’s mother called the initial sentence “horrible” and says the re-sentence is a second dose of disappointment.

“It didn’t turn out the way we wanted, and it’s very disappointing, but it shows there’s room for improvement in our judicial system,” said Jennifer Leath.

“I think this is another case where the Marion County criminal justice system is broken. It’s an absolute sham,” said Snyder.

Snyder once again called on the state legislature to make changes by raising minimum sentences for violent crimes, allowing judges and prosecutors to be recalled and making other changes as needed.

In a statement from the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, officials said:

“Today, prosecutors sought an aggravated sentence to be served consecutively with his other crimes— to ensure the imposed time more appropriately reflects the gravity of his actions. While the outcome was not what we sought, our thoughts remain with the surviving victim, the Leath family and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.”