Criminal Justice
Paralegal Gets Probation in Manslaughter Resulting from Law Office Fray
A Florida paralegal who said he acted in self defense when he killed a man who had threatened his wife, who is an attorney, near her law office, was sentenced to 42 months of probation yesterday under a plea agreement.
James Behanna, 40, of Tampa originally was sentenced to a 15-year prison term after being convicted in 2006 of manslaughter in the 2005 death of 21-year-old Robert Mears. However, an appeals court reversed the conviction, finding that Behanna should have been allowed to present evidence of violent behavior by Mears prior to the alleged attack on Behanna’s wife, reports the Tampa Tribune.
