A man who accompanied a parolee as he gunned down an off-duty Philadelphia Police officer during a robbery gone wrong more than three years ago learned his fate Tuesday.
Chancier McFarland was sentenced 20 to 40 years for the murder of Officer Moses Walker Jr, according to the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office.
Chancier McFarland pleaded guilty last year to his role in the August 2012 killing of Officer Walker.
As part of a plea deal, McFarland pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, conspiracy and robbery. Judge Glenn Bronson told the defendant that he would be sentenced to 20 to 40 years, provided that he cooperate with prosecutors and testified in Rafael Jones' trial.
Walker was in street clothes and walking to a North Philadelphia bus stop after an overnight shift when two men crossed the street and tried to rob him on Aug. 18, 2012. Police said the 19-year veteran was able to draw his gun but was shot in the chest, stomach and arm. He later died from his injuries.
McFarland testified that Walker looked like a college student and an easy target. The off-duty officer was dressed in shorts and carrying a backpack.
Police arrested Jones and McFarland in the days after the shooting claiming that Jones fired the deadly shot.
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A non-jury trial spared Jones a possible death sentence -- he received life in prison instead.
Jones violated parole and should have been in jail at the time of Walker's murder, according to investigators. A parole officer and two supervisors were fired over the supervision of Jones, who failed a drug test days before the slaying. They have fought to regain their jobs, saying they were scapegoats.
A federal lawsuit filed by Walker's family blaming the parole board for his death was dismissed by a judge, but Walker's mother said she planned to appeal.
Walker, a church deacon who was also survived by five siblings, had planned to retire in 2013.
