Morristown foster father guilty on lesser charges

Morristown foster father guilty on lesser charges

By ERICA ESTEP
6 News Anchor/Reporter

ROGERSVILLE (WATE) -- After nearly two weeks of testimony, a Morristown man accused of strangling his foster son was found guilty Friday of voluntary manslaughter and reckless aggravated assault.

Ken Taylor was accused of choking to death his foster son, Jordan Shelton, 16, in October 2007. His defense attorney had told jurors Taylor was defending himself and the death was accidental.

Taylor was facing charges all the way up to first degree murder, but the jurors chose two of the lesser charges they were allowed to consider.

They also had the option of finding him guilty or innocent of second degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, reckless homicide, criminally negligent homicide, attempted aggravated child abuse, attempted aggravated assault, aggravated child abuse, aggravated assault, reckless assault, reckless endangerment, assault or child abuse.

Taylor remains free on bond. Voluntary manslaughter is a Class C felony. His verdict means at the maximum he could spend six years behind bars.

But there's a chance he could get only probation and not be sentenced to any time in jail.

"I really felt that we had proven aggravated child abuse," said prosecuting attorney Berkeley Bell, "but they didn't agree with that."

The victim's mother sighed as the verdict was read. Later, Jordan Shelton's told 6 News they were disappointed that Taylor walked out of the courtroom a free man, going home to his family.

For them, they said, justice would have meant he spent his life behind bars.

Defense attorney Herb Moncier said Taylor and his wife are numb from emotional roller coaster.

"Obviously, a three to six year probationable offense is light years away from life in prison and walking out of the courtroom in chains," Moncier said.

Taylor will be sentenced on November 25.

Prosecutors say they will have to review his previous record before deciding if they'll ask for the maximum punishment.

Moncier has not said whether he plans to appeal this verdict. He plans to wait until after sentencing.

Previous:

• Jury considers whether foster son's death was intentional or accidental
• Taylor testifies he thought foster son was pretending, not dead
• Witnesses: Taylor's foster son had choked other foster children
• State investigating death of foster child in Morristown
• Morristown man charged in death of teen foster child