Judge Denies Increased Sentence for Friend of Dylann Roof

Sketch of Joey Meek from court appearance (File)

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — Federal Judge Mark Gergel has denied the government’s motion to increase the punishment Joey Meek could get under federal sentencing guidelines.

Meek has already pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony and making a false statement to a law enforcement officer.

Federal prosecutors argued that Meek should get more than maximum sentence because of the “horrific nature” of the crime.

They say Dylann Roof told Meek about his intentions beforehand and that Meek urged another friend not to call police after it happened.

In an order signed Monday – Gergel says Meek’s failure to report beforehand was tragic and regrettable but not a violation of federal criminal law.

Gergel says prosecutors can still ask for an upward variance on the day of sentencing based on Meek’s actions *after* the crime was committed.

Meek’s crimes carry with them a maximum 8-year sentence, but prosecutors had offered a lesser sentence if he cooperated in the case against Roof. However, Meek was never called as a witness in the federal trial that wrapped up in January.

Roof was sentenced to death for the Emanuel AME shooting that left nine people dead.