Now convicted of manslaughter in the shooting death of Atatiana Jefferson, former Fort Worth police officer Aaron Dean will be in court again Friday morning -- for the beginning of the sentencing phase of his trial.
Dean was tried for murder but the jury agreed on what lawyers call the "lesser included offense" of manslaughter which, in Texas, generally calls for a sentence of two-to-20 years.
However, some legal experts believe he may not serve prison time.
By law, if the jury decides on a sentence of 10 years or less, it can also recommend probation which the judge is obligated to grant.
If the jury decides on more than 10 years, Dean will have to serve some prison time. In that scenario, he could be eligible for parole after serving half his sentence.
After his conviction Thursday, Dean was booked into the Tarrant County jail where he spent the night.
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