Judge Again Orders No Prison In 'Vigilante' Killing

DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - A judge has declined a second time to order a prison term for a Detroit man who chased and killed a suspected burglar.

An additional year of probation was added to Tigh Croff's sentence for voluntary manslaughter.

Prosecutors who wanted a tougher punishment had persuaded the state appeals court to send the case back to Wayne County Judge Michael Hathaway for a new hearing Friday.

Police said the 34-year-old Croff, a former security guard, returned home in December 2009 to find the 53-year-old Silas and another man in his backyard on the city's east side. Authorities said Croff chased 53-year-old Herbert Silas down the block, where Silas reportedly taunted Croff before he was fatally shot.

The judge said Croff has a good record behind bars and has had many "second thoughts" about the shooting.  He said Croff "felt hopeless" and was provoked by Silas,

The 34-year-old Croff already is serving a separate two-year sentence for using a gun during the incident. He's supposed to be released in February.

At the time of his initial sentencing, Croff apologized to the victim's family, calling himself a hypocrite and a sinner. Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy called Croff's sentence too lenient and "extremely inappropriate under the facts of the case."

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