Jerome Cop Shooter Gets Life In Prison

A 30-year-old southern Idaho man will serve life in prison for shooting a Jerome police officer during a February chase. Christopher Mark Taylor was sentenced Monday in 5th District Court.

Taylor pleaded guilty to felony aggravated battery on an officer in August. He entered an Alford plea to second felony charge of aggravated assault on an officer. In an Alford plea, a defendant doesn't admit guilt but acknowledges prosecutors have enough evidence to gain a conviction. Taylor was charged in February after a high-speed chase during which police officer Dennis Clark was shot in the face with a shotgun. Clark has testified that the shooting caused him to lose the sight in one eye. Taylor apologized to Clark during his sentencing hearing.