GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. – Chasity Prescott, who was facing charges in connection with the 2012 killing of a Clay County detective, pleaded guilty Thursday to second-degree murder in his death.
Prosecutors said Prescott, 38, and two others were inside a suspected meth lab raided by a drug task force when another man shot and killed Detective David White. Because they were committing a felony at the time of White's death, all three were charged with murder.
Jennifer Alder will go on trial June 8 on charges of felony first-degree murder and manufacturing methamphetamine. Jerry Daniels, who was a juvenile at the time of his arrest, will face a charge of third-degree murder when he stands trial on Aug. 8.
A fourth person charged, Ryan Wilder, was convicted in October 2014 on charges of first-degree murder and manufacturing meth and was sentenced to two life terms in prison.
White's partner was also shot during the raid, but survived.
Prescott (pictured below) was sentenced Thursday to 50 years in prison. The original indictment from the grand jury had been for first-degree murder, which carries a sentence of life behind bars.
She also pleaded guilty to seven other charges, including attempted murder for the other deputies on scene, plus second-degree murder for the death of Ted Tilley, the man police said shot and killed White (pictured). Tilley was shot and killed by other deputies during the raid.
Prescott's sentences on those charges will run concurrently with her 50-year sentence.
Prescott showed little emotion as she was led to her seat in the Clay County courtroom. She barely reacted as the judge and her attorneys walked her through the charges she had agreed to plead guilty to.
But that all changed the minute White's widow took the stand, speaking for her husband and family.
"My sweet Dave, my gentle, loving husband and father was gone in an instant," Jennifer White said.
In a few minutes, reading from a paper, looking only at the judge, Jennifer White outlined how the events in a house on Alligator Boulevard three years ago drastically changed her life and the lives of her two young children.
"I should not now have a 3-year-old who can tell me other daddies came to school, but his daddy lives with Jesus," Jennifer White said. "While I am thankful for our strong faith, it saddens me that he must face this reality. The biggest challenge for a mother is to not be able to fix your child's pain."
Throughout that testimony, Prescott could be seen looking up, turning around and looking at loved ones in the audience, then dabbing her eyes with a tissue.
"One of my favorite moments of my life was dancing with my father at my wedding. My little girl will never get that privilege," Jennifer White said.
She spoke of her husband's smile, his calm demeanor and the sparkle in his eye when he was with his two children, and the sadness she feels knowing they'll only know their father through seeing his picture.
"Pictures with their daddy have stopped at such a young age. There are no more and there will never be any more," Jennifer White said. "(Dave) never went away angry. He never had an ugly temper. None of these qualities about their daddy will ever be remembered by the children. But we were so blessed to know that we were loved by him. This is something I will make sure they always remember."
Minutes later, Prescott formally pleaded guilty to eight charges stemming from that night. She was fingerprinted again, looking at loved ones in the audience, and then led away.
"I am thankful for this sentence, and justice to be served on behalf of my husband, Detective David White," Jennifer White said. "Thank you."
Clay County Sheriff Rick Beseler issued a statement on the sentencing Thursday:
"While there are still two cases pending, I am glad to see closure today in this prosecution. I am glad for the White family and for our agency members who now have one more chapter of this tragedy closed. I do see today's sentence of 50 years as significant. It sends a strong message about the seriousness of the crime that was committed; a message that says violence against law enforcement members will be dealt with severely."
Prescott did not address the court Thursday, but her attorney said clearly this is not a happy ending for anyone. But he said he was happy that this was the result of a roundtable discussion with everyone, and everyone was comfortable with it.
He said hopefully it is a measure of justice for David White's family.