MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Federal sentencing dates have been set for five former Memphis Police Officers convicted of federal charges in the death of Tyre Nichols.
Emmitt Martin, Jr., Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills, Jr., and Justin Smith are all appearing in court in December before U.S. District Judge Sheryl Lipman, who replaced Judge Mark Norris, who recused himself in June.
- Emmitt Martin, Jr,: Sentencing set for December 18, 2025
- Tadarrius Bean: Sentencing set for December 15, 2025
- Demetrius Haley: Sentencing set for December 17, 2025
- Desmond Mills, Jr.: Sentencing set for December 19, 2025
- Justin Smith: Sentencing set for December 16, 2025
Judge Mark Norris recused himself just days before he was scheduled to sentence some of the defendants in June.
On June 20, the federal court was in session to discuss the status of the Tyre Nichols case.
Haley, Bean, and Smith were supposed to be sentenced in June, while sentencing hearings for Martin and Mills were scheduled for a later time.
However, that all changed when U.S. District Judge Mark Norris recused himself, without explanation.
In June, WREG reported that defense attorneys have also filed motions or plan to file motions that call for a new trial or for the government to release more information about the case.
Bean, Smith, and Haley were acquitted of all state charges, including second-degree murder, in connection with the beating death of Tyre Nichols during a traffic stop in 2023. Mills and Martin also pleaded guilty to charges at the state level.
Taddarius Bean and Justin Smith, who were found guilty of obstruction of justice in the federal trial, could face a sentence of up to 20 years.
Demetrius Haley, who was found guilty of more charges, could get up to life in prison.
