TULSA, Okla., May 31 (UPI) -- A former Oklahoma reserve deputy who shot and killed a suspect last year was sentenced Tuesday to four years in prison.
Robert Bates was convicted last month of second-degree manslaughter for the death of Eric Harris, an unarmed suspect who was involved in a firearm sale sting operation. Tuesday, a judge sentenced him to prison but gave him credit for time already served.
Bates, 74, had insisted that he meant to grab his stun gun to subdue Harris but accidentally reached for his handgun. Jurors held him criminally negligent for the mistake.
The jury recommended four years in prison, which is exactly what the judge gave the former Tulsa County reserve deputy.
Defense attorneys had wanted to file a motion for a new trial. An extension to file that motion was denied by the judge.
