BALTIMORE (Map, News) - The Elkton woman accused of killing a police officer in a hit-and-run on New Year’s Eve is serving a yearlong sentence for an unrelated traffic charge, attorneys said.

Kerri King, a 35-year-old exotic dancer on The Block in Baltimore, had been indicted earlier this month on charges of striking and killing Maryland Transportation Authority Police Cpl. Courtney Brooks as he directed traffic on New Year’s Eve.

She had been convicted in November on an unrelated traffic charge in Harford County and sentenced April 1 to a year in prison, but the assistant public defender representing her met with Circuit Judge William Carr without a prosecutor present to get the sentence stayed on April 17.

Harford State’s Attorney Joseph Cassilly objected to the decision being made behind closed doors by a judge whom the defense attorney had once worked for, without an assistant state’s attorney present to counterargue.

District Judge Mimi Cooper ruled Tuesday that Carr didn’t have the authority to overrule her, and the public defender’s office did not object.

King had remained in prison without bail in Baltimore the whole time, Cassilly said, but was not earning any credit on her traffic sentence.

“As long as it goes according to the rules, I’m happy,” Cassilly said.

King was indicted on charges of manslaughter with an automobile, leaving the scene of an accident and driving while under the influence of alcohol. In addition to the traffic charge in Harford County, court documents show she is still awaiting trial for alleged violations in Cecil County and Baltimore City.

Her arraignment for the hit-and-run case is scheduled for May 14.

msantoni@baltimoreexaminer.com