Elisha Anderson

Detroit Free Press

It’s been two months since a jury convicted ex-Inkster police officer William Melendez of two felonies in a police brutality case. Today, he’ll learn his punishment.

Melendez, 47, is scheduled to return to the Detroit courtroom where on Nov. 19 he was found guilty of misconduct in office and assault with intent to do great bodily harm and could face prison time. Throughout his trial, jurors repeatedly watched a key piece of evidence: patrol car video that showed Melendez punch Floyd Dent 16 times during a traffic stop in January 2015.

Wayne County Circuit Judge Vonda Evans presided over the trial and will sentence Melendez this morning in the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice.

According to a court document obtained by the Free Press, prosecutors said Melendez’s sentencing guidelines range from two years and five months to four years and nine months. It also said the court should consider an “upward departure” from them.

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“The guidelines do not adequately reflect scoring for the absolute betrayal of the trust and authority placed in the defendant to protect the community and uphold the laws of this state,” it said. “The defendant’s actions have had a severe detrimental impact on both the police community and the community at large.”

A document also has been filed by the defense, but there wasn’t a copy in the public file in the courtroom Monday, court officials said. Melendez’s attorney, James Thomas, declined to comment on the case ahead of sentencing.

“I am going to save my comments for the court,” he told the Free Press.

Ex-Inkster cop guilty in Floyd Dent brutality case

After his client was convicted last year, Thomas said that he will ask Evans to depart downward from the sentencing guidelines.

“It would be unrealistic in a case like this to take for granted the fact that there is a potential for imprisonment,” he said in November.

Thomas argued during the trial that Dent, who was driving without a valid license and ran a stop sign, struggled with police during his arrest and said Melendez's use of force was reasonable. But the prosecution said Melendez used excessive force during the recorded traffic stop and abused his power.

Melendez was fired from his job in Inkster after the video became public. Evans revoked Melendez's bond moments after the verdict was announced, and he was taken into custody.

He is being housed in the Wayne County Jail away from the general population, a spokeswoman for the jail said.

In the sentencing memorandum filed with the court, prosecutors said Dent suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. The court document also alleges Melendez lied in a police report, repeatedly committed perjury, including in a search warrant, and “perhaps planted evidence in Mr. Dent’s vehicle.”

Dent, a longtime Ford worker, was hospitalized for injuries he received the night of his arrest. After his arrest, he was charged with resisting and obstructing and possession of cocaine, but those charges were later dismissed. Dent maintains the drug was planted and said he never resisted.

He reached a $1,377,500 settlement with Inkster last year.

With Inkster cop convicted, Detroit motorist vindicated

Contact Elisha Anderson: 313-222-5144 or eanderson@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @elishaanderson