Friend of accused Charleston church gunman will plead guilty

Joey Meek. (Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post)

Joey Meek, a friend of the man accused of killing nine parishioners in Charleston, S.C., last year, intends to plead guilty to two charges related to the massacre, according to a court document filed Monday.

Meek was indicted in September on counts of making false statements to the FBI and “misprision of a felony,” which meant that he allegedly concealed his knowledge of the crimes. He had pleaded not guilty to these counts, which carry up to eight years in prison.

According to a plea agreement dated last week and filed in federal court on Monday, federal prosecutors and Meek’s attorney agreed that he will instead plead guilty to both counts. The agreement also states that Meek will be “fully truthful and forthright” with law enforcement groups and that, if he is asked for a testimony, he will be required to testify “before any grand juries and at any trials or other proceedings.” If Meek cooperates and is help is deemed “substantial,” authorities will seek to have his sentence reduced.

An attorney for Meek and prosecutors were not immediately available to comment.

Meek’s jury trial had been scheduled for June 27, according to court records. He is now scheduled to have a change of plea hearing on Friday afternoon.

Dylann Roof, who is accused of fatally shooting nine black church members at the Emanuel AME Church in June, had stayed with Meek and his relatives in the weeks before the rampage. Last year, Meek told The Post that he invited Roof to stay with them without hesitation. While Roof had talked about visiting the Emanuel church and doing something crazy, Meek said that he “didn’t take him seriously.”

A South Carolina prosecutor will seek the death penalty for Dylann Roof, who is charged with the murders of nine black worshippers at a Charleston church. (Video: Reuters)

Roof faces state and federal charges stemming from that rampage, though both trials have been delayed.

The state trial was pushed back to early next year because attorneys for Roof asked for more time to have him undergo a psychiatric evaluation, while the federal trial was postponed because the Justice Department has not decided if it will seek the death penalty. State prosecutors have already said they intend to seek a death sentence for Roof.

When Meek was indicted last fall, the grand jury stated that he knew more about the specifics of Roof’s plans than he admitted to FBI agents.

Stephanie McCrummen contributed to this report, which has been updated. 

Further reading:

Remembering the Charleston church shooting victims