Sentencing Delayed for Officer’s Alleged Killer

A judge on Wednesday postponed sentencing on an armed-robbery conviction for Daniel S. Jenkins, who is charged with killing a policeman who testified against him.

The sentencing was delayed so that Jenkins’ public defender, Norman Koplof, can appeal a decision by San Fernando Superior Court Judge Bruce J. Sottile rejecting Koplof’s request to be taken off the case because of a conflict of interest.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Maureen Duffy-Lewis had urged that Jenkins be sentenced on Wednesday as scheduled, but the judge instead set sentencing for Dec. 19.

Jenkins and three other men are charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the ambush shooting of police Detective Thomas C. Williams in front of a Canoga Park day-care center early on Halloween night.

Prosecutors have said they believe Jenkins was the man who shot Williams.

Williams had spent the afternoon before the shooting testifying against Jenkins on charges that he robbed and assaulted a movie theater manager in North Hollywood on Oct. 14, 1984. Jenkins, who was free on $16,000 bail during the trial, was convicted of the robbery the day after Williams’ murder.

Koplof refused to specify what his conflict of interest is. But attorney Howard Price, who is representing Jenkins in the murder case and is seeking to represent him at his armed-robbery sentencing, said after the hearing that Koplof may be called as a witness against Jenkins in the murder.