GovernmentExecutive.com

After more than 20 hours of deliberation, a jury found retired U.S. Marshal Arthur L. Lloyd guilty of manslaughter, reckless endangerment and handgun charges in the shooting death of Navy Seaman Ryan Todd Stowers. He faces a maximum of 35 years in prison and will be sentenced July 26.

The jury found Lloyd not guilty of first- and second-degree murder charges Thursday after the foreman told the court that they could not reach a verdict just after noon. About two hours later, the verdict was announced and while Lloyd dropped his head, his family and Stowers' family cried.

Lloyd, 53, was charged after an incident in a Rockville, Md., shopping plaza parking lot last fall. What began as a traffic dispute quickly escalated into a profanity-filled shouting match that was heard throughout the parking lot by more than 40 witnesses. Blows were exchanged and Lloyd, a 28-year veteran of the U.S. Marshal Service, shot Stowers in the leg with his service weapon, witnesses testified.

Stowers, 20, then got into his car and started to drive away, and Lloyd shot at the car three times, striking Stowers in the back left shoulder twice, according to police reports. Stowers was pronounced dead later that night at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, Md.

The prosecution portrayed Lloyd as a wildly uncontrollable man that November evening, coolly gunning down a younger man attempting to flee the scene. The defense contended that Lloyd was functioning in his capacity as a U.S. marshal and was trying to protect himself and his family from a drunk and uncontrollable person.

A state toxicology report showed that Stowers had a blood-alcohol concentration as high as 0.22 when he died; the legal blood-alcohol driving limit in Maryland in 0.08.

Lloyd's defense lawyers said they would appeal the verdict on the basis that Lloyd did not have to retreat because he was trying to arrest Stowers in his capacity as a marshal.

"Right now, I think I'm stunned," said Barry Helfand, Lloyd's lead attorney. "Two hours ago, 12 people were hung."

Earlier in the day, Helfand said he felt that the jury was hopelessly deadlocked and he was willing to settle for a partial verdict if it would result in Lloyd's release from detention. He said they would deal with the remaining counts in a second trial.

"When we started this case, the state went public with the idea that this is murder. Twelve people decided that this is not murder," Helfand said. "This case is far from over. The court of appeals will overturn this case."

Helfand said it was silly to say that a police officer making an arrest would retreat when threatened.

"There is no question, he is devastated. His family is devastated," Helfand said. "No one won this case. Arthur Lloyd lost his career [and] his life, and [the Stowers'] family lost a son."

Montgomery County State's Attorney Douglas Gansler said that the county would introduce evidence to the judge in determining Lloyd's sentencing that he had been charged with domestic abuse and had a record of several incidents of violence toward prisoners in his 28 years as a U.S. marshal.

The handgun charge brings a minimum sentence of five years.

Stowers' mother, Tricia Stowers of Redding, Calif., said she and her family are satisfied with the verdict.

"Nobody wins in this situation. Everybody loses," Stowers said. "I think Mr. Lloyd needs to face the punishments for his actions. I'd much rather have my son back than a guilty verdict."

COMMENTS

• I believe he should have been convicted of murder because he did it intentionally to teach Stowers a lesson. I am very disappointed on how the Montgomery County police handled it at the scene. He was not arrested immediately just because he kept arguing that he was a U.S Marshall. He is a very dangerous man and should be kept behind bars for life. Kim Posted May 19, 2007 10:00 PM
• FOR RET. CONN: I was wondering the same thing. They probably haven't figured out how they can keep from sending him to prison, or else they haven't found the right Apartment and Golf course to send him to. More than likely they are waiting for a vacancy on some air force base, where they stroll around, play golf, spend time in the sauna and wait for lunch to be served. After all he should have been convicted of murder and if it was anybody else (as I have said before) besides a serviceman, he would have been convicted and sentenced for murder. What a pathetic justice department. Charlie Posted August 9, 2005 8:02 PM
• All that publicity during his arrest and trial, but nothing concerning his sentencing, which was supposed to be July 26. Has anyone followed up on that? GovExec.com reader Posted August 9, 2005 2:10 PM