Cortnee Brantley indicted by federal Grand jury

TAMPA - A federal grand jury indicted Cortnee Brantley on a charge of Misprision of felony.

Brantley had been arrested on the charge by federal authorities after a man accused of killing two police officers surrendered.

Misprision of felony is an offense under United States federal law, and was codified in 1909 under Title 18. The code is as follows: "Whoever, having knowledge of the actual commission of a felony cognizable by a court of the United States, conceals and does not as soon as possible make known the same to some judge or other person in civil or military authority under the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both."

Authorities say Brantley, 22, concealed the fact that Dontae Morris, the accused triggerman in the June 29 police shooting, was a felon in possession of a firearm.

Morris has been charged in the officers' deaths and remains in jail. Brantley is under house arrest while awaiting trial.

Court documents also state that a federal judge asked to be taken off the case. Magistrate Judge Thomas G. Wilson requested a reassignment because his daughter is a corporal with the Tampa Police Department.

The case was handed to Magistrate Judge Mark A. Pizzo.