RB police dog stabbing sentenced postponed - again

Torrance Superior Court Judge Sandra Thompson was just seconds away from handing down a sentence to Jimmie Lunceford when she decided to give him a last-second reprieve to file a motion for a new trial. Lunceford's attorney, William Kopeski, had told Thompson that he believed a motion should be filed, but Lunceford and his family never authorized him to do so.

The sentencing hearing continued anyway with Deputy District Attorney Christine Von Helmolt arguing Lunceford should receive the maximum five-year, eight-month sentence and Kopeski asking for leniency for his emotionally unstable client. At the end, Kopeski took the long-shot and asked for a bit more time to file the motion after Lunceford asked him to, and Thompson said OK. They will return June 4 to argue the motion and, if it is denied, Lunceford will be sentenced.