KILLEEN, TX — A former Killeen police officer plead guilty to a third degree felony on Friday.
At a pretrial hearing, Former KPD Officer Anthony Custance plead guilty to tampering with evidence from the execution of a “no-knock” search warrant that left a man dead.
A plea agreement was reached with the state. However, the judge has not agreed to the deal.
25 News tried to speak to Custance as he exited the courtroom, but his attorney let us know he would not be making a statement until the hearing.
However, we did get the chance to sit down with the Reed family, the family of the man who was killed in the shooting.
James Reed was killed during the execution of a "no-knock" search warrant on his home.
A Texas Rangers investigation into the February police raid concluded Custance began shooting in violation of orders, and later tried to hide it.
On Friday, Custance plead guilty to tampering with evidence, a third degree felony.
“If he's not the officer that actually shot the shot that killed my brother but you still played a part in his killing, regardless of how it's viewed or is looked at because you lied,” said Larry Reed, brother of James Reed.
Custance reached a plea agreement with the State which included probation without jail time and no trial before a jury.
"Like I said we're not happy with the fact that he got deferred adjudication probation,” said Jumeka Reed, sister of James Reed.
In addition, Custance agreed to surrender his license to enforce law.
"Even though KPD or any other police station could see that he's banned, his license is banned from the law enforcement, that's still not enough," said Jumeka.
However, Judge Fancy Jezek has not agreed to the deal.
Instead, she said on Friday, because there is enough evidence for him to be found guilty, Custance must undergo a pre-sentence investigation followed by a punishment hearing.
The Reed family said when the time comes, they will be there.
"He needs way more than what he got. He got like my brother said a slap on the hand, a slap on the wrist, whatever you want to call it. But hopefully judge Fancy does her job. That’s what I’m hoping for," said Jumeka.
The punishment hearing is set for Dec. 2 at 1:30 p.m.
A Bell County Grand Jury indicted Custance on June 5 for tampering with evidence. He then quit the force and turned himself in.
As of Nov. 15, the Texas Rangers shared the investigation part of the case of the death of James Reed is considered complete, but the case is not closed. Texas Department of Public Safety authorities said, no other details can be released at this time.
