‘Temper justice with mercy’: Ex-Antioch cops who testified against colleagues avoid jail

OAKLAND — Two ex-Antioch officers avoided incarceration for various crimes committed while on the force, after a judge found their “sincere remorse,” rehabilitation and testimony against former colleagues warranted mercy.

Daniel Harris, a former Antioch officer, and Timothy Manly-Williams, a former officer for Antioch and Pittsburg, were both sentenced Tuesday to three-year probation terms in lieu of jail time. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White handed down both sentences at an afternoon hearing.

“The court believes it is appropriate in this case to temper justice with mercy,” White said at Harris’ hearing, which was immediately followed by Manly-Williams’. White thanked Harris for his “sincere remorse” and testimony against “bad, rotten police officers who not only violated their oaths but visited terror on the Antioch community.”

He said Manly-Williams’ crimes were worse, but his sincere remorse and work making amends went even further.

Manly-Williams was a star witness against ex-Antioch K9 Officer Morteza Amiri, who was convicted of siccing his dog on a man without cause, but acquitted of conspiracy and civil rights charges. His civil rights conviction was largely thanks to Manly-Williams, who was the lone eyewitness, other than the victim. Similarly, Harris was a star witness against ex-Antioch Officer Devon Wenger, who was convicted of steroids distribution in that trial.

Wenger and Amiri were sentenced to seven-and-a-half-years and seven years in state prison, respectively. All told, 14 ex-Antioch and Pittsburg officers were charged with a wide range of state and federal offenses in 2023, and all have since either been convicted at trial or pleaded guilty.

Manly-Williams apologized in court to the public, his family and ex-colleagues, stating in court he was taking “full responsibility” and has worked to right any wrongs through volunteer work and self-reflection in the more than two years since he was charged.

“I understand that consequences are appropriate, and I am prepared to accept them,” Manly-Williams said.

White noted Harris and Manly-Williams testimony against ex-officers, and said it was a strong factor in his sentencing determination. He said that the two cases differed, though, since Manly-Williams’ crimes involved a civil rights violation and interfering with a murder investigation. Manly-Williams later admitted to other crimes, including taking marijuana seized during police operations and a tequila-for-quashed-tickets bribery scheme.

“I got the sense that you were burdened with guilt,” and seeking an opportunity to make up for it, White said of Manly-Williams’ cooperation.

Harris, who pleaded guilty to distributing steroids to other officers and lying on a home loan application form, apologized in writing and in court, begging the court for “mercy, not for my sake, but for my family.” Similarly, Manly-Williams “immediately” accepted responsibility for his crimes and has publicly apologized repeatedly, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Chang said deserved credit.

“From this standpoint, it’s sort of the tale of two halves,” Chang said, meaning Manly-Williams’ “exemplary” acceptance of responsibility should be weighed strongly against his crimes.

Manly-Williams was employed as a special education teacher at Heritage High School in 2023, and has maintained employment there ever since, his lawyer said in court.

With regard to Harris, White said he was “struck” by how the criminal convictions have ruined his life, preventing him from obtaining employment and led to fractured relationships in his personal life.

Both men must do community service, and White said he hoped Harris would speak to high schoolers about the dangers of steroids and police cadets about pitfalls.

“I would love to do that, your honor,” White said.

Before sentencing Manly-Williams, White reflected on the trials of Amiri and Wenger, stating he was struck by the lack of supervision despite years of racism, police violence and other corruption within the Antioch Police Department. He said he hoped multiple officers being sent to jail or prison would wake up the law enforcement community there.

“I was just wondering, as a citizen, not as a judge, when was somebody on the force going to say, ‘Stop, this is enough?'” White said. “And I didn’t hear it, and it really troubled the court to hear this rampant evil and violence and racism and sexism … and nobody stepped forward until somebody was caught.”