White security guard who lied about Black man shooting him gets no jail time
Brent P. Ahlers is ordered to attend criminal justice program with Black men
Brent P. Ahlers is ordered to attend criminal justice program with Black men
A white campus security guard who shot himself on accident and then blamed the shooting on a fictional Black man won’t face jail time for his lie.
In September, the security guard, Brent P. Ahlers shot himself in the shoulder on accident. One major problem with that is Ahlers wasn’t supposed to have a weapon in the first place.
Ahlers worked at St. Catherine University, an all-female Catholic university that does not allow firearms. In a panic, thinking he might lose his job, Ahlers reported that he had been shot by a Black man with an Afro.
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The university went on lockdown, and police wasted precious resources looking for the fictitious shooter: 55 police officers, four K-9 units and Minnesota State Patrol aircraft.
The next day, Ahlers admitted he made the story up because he thought he might lose his job. In October, he pleaded guilty to falsely reporting a crime, a misdemeanor. He also lost his job at the university.
Making restitution
On Monday, Ramsey County District Judge Nicole Starr gave Ahlers the chance to avoid jail time. As long as he completes six sessions with Ramsey County District Judge George Stephenson’s group for men whose lives have intersected with the criminal justice system, he will not go to jail.
Starr noted that most of the men in the group are Black, an intentional choice. She made it clear to Ahlers that she expected him to see for himself how his actions impacted the Black community.
What’s more, Starr told Ahlers that he would have to report back to her on what he learned during the sessions.
“I’ll expect you’ll have something to say that’s a little bit more than ‘I’m sorry,’” Starr said.
Otherwise, Starr said, she would send him to jail for 60 days.
She also ordered him to pay $4,500 in restitution for wasted law enforcement resources.
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