Ex-officer charged in missing Gwinnett teen, murder refuses plea deal – WSB-TV Channel 2

Bryant worked as both a Doraville police officer and a courtesy officer at the apartment complex where the teen was last seen.

Channel 2's Tom Regan was at the Gwinnett County Justice Center Monday, where both sides vetted potential jurors to choose 12 and several alternates.

Bryant was initially accused of concealing a death. His charges were later upgraded to murder. An indictment also charges Bryant with criminal attempt to commit rape in addition to his existing charges of murder, kidnapping and more.

He declined the opportunity to take a plea deal.

“You now have the decision to take that risk, go to trial and ask the judge to sentence you if you are found guilty,” a prosecutor said.

The other option was to accept responsibility now and ask the court for a lesser sentence with the possibility of parole.

Bryant said he understands his options.

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Prosecutors and defense attorneys questioned potential jurors on a wide variety of topics, including what they thought of police officers, whether they or anyone they knew had been the victim of a sexual assault and if they could be impartial in evaluating the evidence.

The former police officer is also accused of falsely reporting that his vehicle had been broken into and his gun stolen.

Jury selection is expected to continue Tuesday.

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