Ft Worth City Council Member Chris Nettles Image by Video screenshot taken from Ft Worth City Council video

Fort Worth City Council Member Chris Nettles says he mistakenly moved to approve additional legal-fee spending tied to former police officer Aaron Dean and is asking the council to reconsider the vote after criticism from residents.

Dean fatally shot Atatiana Jefferson, 28, inside her Fort Worth home in 2019. A jury later convicted Dean of manslaughter and sentenced him to 11 years in prison, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.

The Fort Worth City Council voted June 23 on M&C 26-0525, a city agenda item authorizing an increase in the maximum amount paid to attorney Kenneth East to as much as $200,000.

Nettles issued a public statement the next day saying he did not realize the item was tied to Dean’s legal fees when he made the motion.

“Yesterday, the Fort Worth City Council voted on M&C 26-0525 to authorize increasing the maximum amount to be paid to Kenneth East to up to $200,000.00,” Nettles said. “This M&C was on the consent agenda and pulled to be voted separately along with two other M&Cs.”

“When this M&C was called for vote, I mistakenly made a motion for approval without fully realizing that I was voting on the M&C related Aaron Dean legal attorney fees,” he added.

Nettles Defends Record

Nettles called the vote “an honest mistake” and said residents should not view it as a reflection of his values or his record on the Jefferson case.

“This was an honest mistake. Over the course of my life, I have made honest mistakes, and human errors,” Nettles said. “However, I want the community to know that this error/mistake should not be interpreted as a reflection of my character, my values, or my long-standing advocacy for justice.”

Nettles also pointed to state law requiring local governments to provide legal counsel without cost to certain public employees, including peace officers, firefighters, and emergency medical services employees, when they face a suit for damages.

“I don’t agree with it but it’s law, and these are laws we should be advocating to get changed,” Nettles said.

Nettles cited his previous advocacy in the Jefferson case, including his support for renaming Hillside Community Center as the Atatiana Carr-Jefferson Community Center at Hillside. The city also approved a $3.5 million partial settlement in the Jefferson lawsuit, according to prior reporting.

As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Fort Worth City Council unanimously voted in 2023 to rename the recreation center in Jefferson’s memory.

Residents Push Back

Nettles’ explanation drew mixed reactions under his public Facebook post, with some residents defending him and others questioning how he could mistakenly move to approve an item tied to such a high-profile case.

“I have prepared a CP to reconsider the vote at the council voting meeting,” Nettles wrote in a comment.

Lynn Norman offered support, writing, “Hang in there, Chris!”

Tasha Brewer also defended Nettles, writing, “You’re human and all of us make mistakes.”

Others were more critical.

“So basically you just in there doing ANYTHANG??!!” Christina Singletary wrote. “Then gone try to TRUMP your voters by wanting US to believe that despite many opposers FROM YOUR CONSTITUENCY that you ALL OF A SUDDEN didn’t know what you were doing??”

Singletary also accused Nettles of deleting her comment.

Nettles responded, “check my record as it relates to this issue. I don’t stay silenced, I’m going to always speak up even when it’s hard times. Plus my community deserves to hear from me on all issues.”

TyCorin Simpson urged Nettles to do more than issue a statement.

“What will be done to right your wrong brother?” Simpson wrote. “You owe it to the people make it right councilman nettles.”

Nikki Henry said the stakes were too high for the vote to be dismissed as a simple mistake.

“If he was unsure of any verbiage use in any part of the document he knows their resources to use to gain clarity,” Henry wrote. “There’s no excuse.”

Patrick Durham also criticized the mistake, writing, “when reading something of importance it should be read THOROUGHLY.”

Reconsideration Sought

Nettles said he has drafted a Council Proposal asking the City Council to reconsider the vote so he can correct his position.

“I have drafted up a CP requesting to the Fort Worth City Council to reconsider the vote on M&C 26-0525, to correct my vote,” Nettles said. “We will reconsider this vote at the next council voting meeting.”