{"id":405383,"date":"2026-08-13T10:38:34","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T10:38:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/405383\/"},"modified":"2026-08-13T10:38:34","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T10:38:34","slug":"fort-worth-city-council-reapproves-increased-legal-fees-for-ex-police-officer-aaron-dean-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/405383\/","title":{"rendered":"Fort Worth City Council reapproves increased legal fees for ex-police officer Aaron Dean"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Scott Nishimura, Fort Worth Report
August 11, 2026<\/p>\n

Fort Worth City Council members voted again<\/a> to authorize another $100,000 in legal fees to the lawyer representing former police officer Aaron Dean, convicted in 2022 of manslaughter<\/a> in his on-duty shooting of Atatiana Jefferson.<\/p>\n

The council voted unanimously on Tuesday to reconsider their June 23 vote<\/a> approving the raise in legal fees, after council member Chris Nettles said after that meeting he mistakenly voted in favor. Council members this time voted 7-4 to approve the original motion.<\/p>\n

Nettles told his council colleagues Tuesday he understood Fort Worth\u2019s statutory obligation to pay for Dean\u2019s legal fees but said the Texas Legislature should consider changing the relevant law.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen someone does something outside the course of action and murders someone, we should not be paying their legal fees,\u201d Nettles said.<\/p>\n

\"(MariaFort Worth council member Chris Nettles during a FY 2027 budget work session meeting on May 12, 2026. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report\/CatchLight Local\/Report for America)<\/p>\n

Nettles and council members Jeanette Martinez, Deborah Peoples and Mayor Pro Tem Carlos Flores voted against the additional legal fees to Kenneth East, representing Dean in a civil suit filed by Jefferson’s family. The motion approved up to $200,000 in legal fees; the city had previously approved up to $100,000.<\/p>\n

Martinez said she also understood the city\u2019s obligations. But since the June 23 vote and Nettles\u2019 subsequent request that the council reopen the vote so he could vote \u201cno,\u201d Martinez said, \u201cI\u2019ve since reflected a lot on that vote and upholding my commitment to social justice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Peoples was the only \u201cno\u201d vote on the motion to approve the June 23 agenda item.<\/p>\n

Scott Nishimura is senior editor for local government accountability and a Fort Worth City Hall reporter at the Fort Worth Report. Reach him at scott.nishimura@fortworthreport.org.<\/p>\n

At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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