38-Year-Old Former Fort Worth Police Officer Sentenced
A former Texas police officer who was convicted of manslaughter in the 2019 shooting death of Atatiana Jefferson in her home was sentenced Tuesday to nearly 12 years in prison. 38-year-old white former Fort Worth Police Officer Aaron Dean faces up to 20 years in prison for murdering Jefferson, a 28-year-old black woman.
According to a published post by CNN, Dressed in a gray suit, Dean stood in court and showed no emotion as the verdict was read out. Jefferson’s relatives read out an impact statement after being sentenced to 11 years, 10 months, and 12 days in prison.
“My sister has done nothing wrong,” said Ashley Carr, Jefferson’s sister. “She was in her own home, which was supposed to be the safest place for her, but it turned out to be the most dangerous place. I can’t work, and I live in pain every day.” Carr said he felt sorry for Dean.
Manslaughter: Former Texas Officer Sentenced To Nearly 12 Years For Killing Atatiana Jefferson
“Not because of the punishment you received for your crime,” she told Dean in court. No knowledge, you are not conscious enough to understand your responsibility for this wrongdoing.” A jury began debating the verdict on Monday after convicting Dean last Thursday.
Prosecutors told jurors that Dean would be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison and otherwise be a “distortion of justice.” It demanded a suspended sentence and community oversight, pointing out that it did not require
The verdict comes more than three years after Dean and his partner reacted at the Jefferson home at about two o’clock to a fatal encounter. 10:00 PM, October 12, 2019, They arrived at their home after neighbors called the police emergency number and reported that the door was open.
They did not report to the police at their home, and Dean then shot Jefferson dead through his bedroom window while he was playing video games with his 8-year-old nephew.