Former Fort Worth police officer Aaron Dean has been transferred to the James “Jay” H. Byrd Unit in Huntsville, where he will undergo diagnostics before being transferred to a permanent facility.
Dean was convicted of manslaughter last week for shooting Atatiana Jefferson while investigating a non-emergency call at her home in 2019. He was sentenced Tuesday to nearly 12 years behind bars.
Dean had been free on bond in the three years since the shooting, awaiting trial.
Jefferson’s family and attorney, Lee Merritt, held a press conference following Dean’s sentencing. They affirmed they would move forward with the civil suit they filed against the former police officer and the City of Fort Worth.
A judge had put the civil suit proceedings on hold pending the outcome of the criminal trial.
When the jury handed down Dean’s sentence Tuesday, Merritt immediately filed a motion with the court to lift that hold.
He stated that they plan to pursue litigation to change the City of Fort Worth’s policies and approach to training officers, adding that the civil suit would also seek “compensation, of course, for this family who has been rocked by the loss of their loved one.”
Merritt also said he is working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to bring federal civil rights charges not only against Dean but against the Fort Worth Police Department as well.
“Best case scenario, the Department of Justice comes in to review the Fort Worth Police Department … and decides to do a pattern and practice investigation into the region and its policies concerning the use of force,” said Merritt.
Dean’s defense attorneys argued during the trial that the former police officer was acting in self-defense because he saw Jefferson with a gun pointed at him.
“There’s nothing to gain by sending this man to the penitentiary,” said defense attorney Bob Gill in his closing arguments during the sentencing phase.
Dean filed a notice of appeal almost immediately after the jury handed down his sentence, according to court records.
The appeal proceedings and pursuit of federal civil rights charges will all play out while Dean remains behind bars.
Even though the criminal proceedings in the case are done, Dean and the City of Fort Worth still likely face years of legal proceedings.
“The appeals process is a lengthy process,” Fort Worth attorney Lisa Herrick said. “The civil case will very likely be a lengthy process. If a federal case does end up getting filed and pursued, that could be a lengthy process.”
