Getaway driver’s sentence overturned in Severns murder

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Mijell Redding getaway driver in Scott Severns murder

Mijell Redding (Photo provided)

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Jul 8, 2008 at 4:50 PM EDT

Story Updated: Jul 8, 2008 at 5:24 PM EDT

INDIANAPOLIS — The man who drove the getaway car after a South Bend officer was shot will spend less time in prison. The Indiana Court of Appeals changed Mijell Redding's sentence Tuesday.

A judge had sentenced him to 45 years in prison for attempted robbery.
The Court of Appeals ruled that was too harsh. It changed the sentence to 30 years instead.

Redding and Jeff Finley tried to rob Cpl. Scott Severns in April 2006, not knowing he was a police officer. When Severns pulled his gun, Finley shot and killed him.

A judge sentenced Finley to 55 years for murder and 10 years for attempted robbery. He also appealed his sentence, but the appeals court upheld it in May.

Thursday, Jul 10 at 10:07 AM to what a joke wrote ...

Scott was armed. He attempted to fight back. He just only managed to shoot the shooter in the stomach. And Scott was a trained police officer and SWAT member. He knew how to shoot and he still died. More guns on the streets won't solve anything. Most reports show that it is more likely for you to get seriously injured during a robbery if you are armed than if you are not. Remember these people are cowards. That's why they choose to rob you.

Thursday, Jul 10 at 6:12 AM Hey, what a joke.. wrote ...

I am with you brother. Arm yourself and if you get robbed "take care of business."

Thursday, Jul 10 at 12:36 AM To 10:02 AM to MM wrote ...

Erm, actually, the police DO have to answer to everyone. The people are society. The police serve society. So, yeah, the citizenry are in charge of the police, professionally. That still doesn't mean that his off-duty relationships should matter in the least, nor does it in any way justify what happened. A man was killed. A citizen who dedicated himself to serving his community was killed by a couple of thugs. The appeals court failed us all.

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 11:15 PM South Bend Res wrote ...

One of the biggest parts of this ever increasingly infested thug area are those who SUPPORT THEM! For crying out loud - there used to be a time not so long ago when murderers and accomplices to murder were not considered "good people" and were shunned for their actions. Doing so made others thing twice. People supporting them are saying it is OKAY for them to continue doing and they WILL continue doing it. Get realistic and get an education in grammer and complete sentances, please!

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 11:08 PM Kenneth La Buda wrote ...

Bleeding heart judges, the driver is guilty as the scum that pulled the trigger. They should of had street justice and you would not have to worry about do gooders. If and when he gets out my verdict waste him.

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 10:29 PM T Gaskill wrote ...

I'll be surprised if spends more than 10 in prison.

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 7:52 PM Kit Kat wrote ...

Dan, I worry about him getting out in 15 years...he will be walking the street and not able to get a job because of the life he CHOSE and that is when he will do the robbings and killings again. keep this and pull it out in 15.7 years.

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 5:58 PM Dan wrote ...

30yrs means that he will do 15yrs State time. Don't worry people, this Thug will get shipped back for something. The Thugs will always lose!!!!!!

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 5:10 PM HERE IT IS wrote ...

I'd give the driver a break IF he didnt have a past criminal record. If he is just another thug I believe the Court of Appeals is making a mistake. It's a crying shame when the criminals get more justice then the good people who are either robbed, beaten, killed or raped.

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 3:51 PM Carolyn wrote ...

How nice to know he will be out while he is still young and healthy enough to pursure his criminal career. Criminal justice is a very descriptive term.

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 3:09 PM frustrated with the system wrote ...

Would love to find out how to make the laws tougher on violent criminals. I urge all of you to contact your State, Local and Federal Representatives and tell them that WE'VE HAD ENOUGH! We want our lives back. We do not deserve to live in fear. We do not deserve to have judges give light sentences because of their feelings. We need to teach people that it's wrong to commit crimes. Please stand up for yourself and your family and help us fight the system!

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 1:05 PM SBPD wrote ...

Redding is a piece of human waste and deserved the original sentence. Too bad he will be out in less than 15 years. That is truly disgusting. A good man lost his life because of Redding and Finley.

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 11:38 AM Jamie wrote ...

In response to MM- if Severns would have been from the "hood" those 2 cowards would have never attempted to rob him. Most of the people who are victims of crimes chose not to cooperate with police and lie about the facts- this is why there is a never ending circle of violence. People in America need to learn values and respect and stop trying to take the easy way out and "rob" for things they havent earned. Parents need to teach their kids values instead of teaching them to try to "get over".

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 11:29 AM Jamie wrote ...

To clarify he was in that parking lot becasue it was almost directly in front of where the girl lived. He parked there becasue there were no open spots on the street. She was walking him to his car prior to him leaving thats why they were standing outside of the car. Why did it matter that they were not married. Also remember these criminals drove by them at least twice prior to attemping to rob them. It is not a bad neighborhood.

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 11:04 AM To MM at 8:30 wrote ...

Bad neighborhood? It just so happens that he was across the street by his car where he parked when going to the girl's house. She lived just across the street. So, not all that live in "bad neighborhoods" are bad people. He just stopped by her house where she lived with her parents. They were not doing anything illegal or immoral. Geez, some people.

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 10:02 AM to MM@8:30am wrote ...

What does it matter where he was, whom he was with or what he was doing there? Because of where he was, what he was doing with whom justifies his murder? That is the most inane thing I have ever heard. And why would the police have to answer to you or anyone else?

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 9:11 AM Kit Kat wrote ...

Did you mother ever tell you "if you are around bad people you are bad also"? Don't say he "is" a good person now that he has to go to prison.

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 8:50 AM to 8:23am Annoyed wrote ...

Thank you. Agree 100%

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 8:41 AM Rae wrote ...

His does deserve to be punished. But like 11:59 Anon said why is killing a cop diffrent than killing a normal person. He wasn't on duty at the time. But that still doesn't matter. I would want him to do the time that he to do because he assisted another person who killed a normal person, not because he is a officer. If it had been someone's mom, dad or other family I would wish he recieved lenghty time.

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 8:30 AM MM wrote ...

5:36 PM Eddie wrote ...That is BS. A man is dead because of his choices.a great person. let's not forget scott severns was in a bad neighborhood, off duty, with a female he wasn't married to.Just to take a look at the scene off northside boulevard in the parking lot of the old boy scouts bldg.the media asked the police what he was doing there and they didn't respond. they both made mistakes.if scott severns had been from the hood like Mijell Redding you all would be saying who cares.

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 8:23 AM annoyed wrote ...

just because a police officer knows the risks involved when he chooses that career path, doesnt give anyone any more right to cause harm to them.

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 8:17 AM frog wrote ...

To Anon@12:09am: in refernce to Jiles comment...look up sarcasm in the dictionary. The person who kills a police officer and all that were involved with him/her should get an automatic death penalty. To Anon@11:59pm, just as anyone who kills anyone should get the death penalty..as some of you may know, yes, I am a cop "fan"; I am engaged to one...however, I still feel it should be across the board. Anyone who takes a life, or helps take a life should give up their own. No question.

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 8:11 AM to In God we Trust wrote ...

Redding was not in the wrong place at the wrong time. He chose to help his friend "Go get somebody". How can he be a good person if he knew what Finley was doing and still went along? How are his Mom and Aunt good people if they could not teach this man any better? He did not ride with someone HE DROVE!!! Finley told him what he was going to do. Even went back to the car twice as he walked by Scott. Redding NEVER STOPPED HIM. He even hid the gun! How's that for a good person?

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 8:07 AM friend of the family wrote ...

What a sad day in our nation when a sentence can be reduced to what will only be 15 years for helping murder a fine young man. It does not matter if Scott was a cop or not, he was still a man. A man that lost his life too soon because he put others before him. Because two people were too lazy to get a job and thought they deserved something for nothing that fine man is gone. He left a family behind who has still not stopped hurting. Please think of the family before commenting. RIP Scott.

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 6:39 AM In God We Trust wrote ...

Mr Redding is a good person I no his mother and aunt they are sweet .He just was at the wrong place at the wrong time and people please be careful who you ride with cause you will be in something you would never hade expected

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 12:09 AM Anonymous wrote ...

"jiles" your a moron, and prob a member of his family! Ya he looks like a great upstanding citizen! You reap what you sow! dont forget that! As for that coward redding...DEATH PENALTY!

Tuesday, Jul 8 at 11:59 PM Anon wrote ...

I know people are angry over this but I have a question for all of you. Why is the penalty so different just becuase a cop is killed. What about just a normal everyday "joe" Aren't our lives just as important? Police officers know the risk they take when they take the job. Recently in all of the post I hear alot of complaints from cops about their job being tough. We know it is. Quit if you don't like it or are afraid. Let's see how many years the 3 cops who have been federally charged get.

Tuesday, Jul 8 at 10:40 PM McFly wrote ...

How much energy is spent complaining and how much energy is spend writing your representatives to change the laws? You people deserve the society you get. Go to google. Do a keyword search for, "write your representative". Follow the links. Leave a note, "keep violent people in jail, stop crowding the prisons with non-violent offenders". Don't you want to be free to go out any time, any where in your own country in the 21st century!?

Tuesday, Jul 8 at 9:20 PM Me wrote ...

THUG!

Tuesday, Jul 8 at 8:55 PM Kit Kat wrote ...

This man will not learn and be a better person in jail. He will come out an animal..watch and see..when this happens the judges should be held accountable for it

Tuesday, Jul 8 at 8:44 PM Jiles wrote ...

Thank goodness justice was served. This poor young man was only trying to help a friend make ends meet by soliciting donations when things went horribly, horribly wrong for them. I salute the fine judiciary for a job well done. I'd like to suggest a program where this upstanding citizen is given a residence in the same neighborhood our wise appeals court reside in. I'm sure, with their deep empathy, they can serve as guiding lights for him upon his release.

Tuesday, Jul 8 at 8:40 PM Anon wrote ...

Lorenzo, Just can give this piece of crap exactly what he was sentenced to..45 years. He really deserves the death penalty, but that won't happen.

Tuesday, Jul 8 at 7:14 PM Unknown wrote ...

What a crock our judicial system is. Cutting his sentence to 30 is just not right. He'll be out in less than 15 years thanks to the way the system operates. I wish that when a criminal is sentenced to X amount of years they actually serve X amount of years with no time off for good behavior espically when a murder is involved. Murder should be a manditory death sentence or life without parole!

Tuesday, Jul 8 at 7:04 PM Police supporter wrote ...

Not so long ago, any of the parties involved in a crime that resulted in death was subject to the same penalty as the perpetrator. And murder of a police officer merited the death penalty. That was before the era of political correctness and compassion for sociopaths. Where do they get these judges? They should be placed as cell-mates to comfort and reinforce him. The look of defiance and lack of remorse on this person's face indicates the 1st sentence was inadequate. God bless our police.

Tuesday, Jul 8 at 6:46 PM lorenzo wrote ...

the guy is going to spend thirty years in jail what more can justice give.

Tuesday, Jul 8 at 6:14 PM Anon. wrote ...

To What a joke, I couldn't agree with you more. I believe in "an eye for an eye" and so it should also be "a life for a life". You take a life that's not your then you should give up your own!

Tuesday, Jul 8 at 5:36 PM Eddie wrote ...

That is BS. A man is dead because of his choices. A family has lost a son, a brother, a great person. Cop or not they deserve to pay for the terrible crime they commited. He is just as guilty as the person that pulled the trigger. He will be able to live his life unlike Severns.

Tuesday, Jul 8 at 5:21 PM Kevin wrote ...

That is terrible.

Tuesday, Jul 8 at 5:21 PM What a joke wrote ...

Just another fine example of our justice system at work. All the more reason to arm yourself so fine upstanding young men like him do not have the chance to appeal.

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