A Tennessee man convicted in the violent fatal shooting of his teacher wife’s student lover will spend 47 more days in jail, followed by 12 years on probation, a judge ruled at a sentencing. The man faced life in prison when he was tried for the violent crime of murder in the 2007 slaying of 18-year-old Sean Powell, the lover of his now ex-wife. But a Knox County jury in September convicted him of the lesser charge of reckless homicide.
If the man, who hopes to finish his college degree and become a high school band director, violates probation in the next 12 years, he could have to serve the full four-year sentence in prison.
The criminal defense attorney was frustrated with the unusually long probation term of 12 years, and blamed prosecutors for trying to “salvage something from what the evidence and the jury said this was” — not a murder, but an accidental killing. The criminal defense attorney said he will appeal the sentence.
The convicted man admitted shooting Powell, whom he caught having sex with his wife. But he said the shooting on March 10, 2007, was an accident. He said he pointed a high-powered rifle at Powell to get him to leave his home. The teen reached for the gun, it went off and killed the teen instantly. Instead of trying to help the victim, the man fled.
Skilled criminal defense attorneys can assist the accused, even in the most heinous violent crime trials. Violent crimes are criminal acts that involve the use or threat of violence. In most cases, violence is used as a means to an end, especially during crimes such as rape and robbery. During the commission of a violent crime, the offender may or may not use a weapon. If the offender uses a weapon while committing a violent crime, the offense will usually be classified as felony.
Once a person is convicted a violent crime, he/she may be punished with:
- imprisonment
- large fines
- community service
- probation
- parole
- court ordered anger management classes
If the defendant has a prior criminal offense on his/her record, or if the defendant used a weapon while committing the crime, he/she may be subject to enhanced criminal charges and sentencing if convicted. Due to the life-altering legal consequences that are involved, it is always in a person’s best interest to obtain the services of a criminal defense attorney who has the legal background and knowledge it takes to successfully fight violent crime charges.

Source: Law Blog

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