West Gets 2 Years Following Obstruction Conviction

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A Bartow County Superior Court judge has handed down the sentence for a resident convicted on an obstruction charge.

Judge D. Scott Smith on Tuesday gave Michael Ray West a two-year sentence, with 90 days to serve at the Bartow County Jail, the office of District Attorney Rosemary Greene said Tuesday afternoon.

He will receive credit for any time served to date and following the jail sentence, he will serve the remainder of his sentence on probation. West is also required to pay a $500 fine and other surcharges while on probation, Greene’s office said.

Last month, West was found guilty of one obstruction of an law enforcement officer charge, but acquitted of the other charge he faced at the time.

In November, West was acquitted on one count of obstruction of a law enforcement officer and three counts of attempting to remove a weapon of a public officer. Those charges stemmed from an arrest that led to allegations of excessive force late last year.

West was arrested Nov. 12, 2013, and charged with two counts of theft by conversion, obstructing an officer and taking an officer’s weapon. West, who advertised on Craigslist his business selling new and used campers shells and repairing camper shells, was accused of taking money from customers for work he did not complete and products he failed to provide.

While the arrest occurred in the Emerson Police Department’s jurisdiction, Bartow-Cartersville Drug Task Force agents and U.S. Marshals participated in the operation.

Angela West accused authorities of using excessive force on her father when they arrested him, and pointed to surveillance video that appeared to show an officer stepping on her father’s head after he was placed onto the ground.