TARRANT COUNTY, Texas — Aaron Dean’s defense team is calling for an investigation into possible jury misconduct after filing a motion that claims a purported juror allegedly made a social media post during the trial.
Dean’s defense attorneys say the alleged actions, if it was a juror, would set the groundwork for Dean to be entitled to a new trial.
Court documents Friday show that Tarrant County Judge George Gallagher granted the motion, agreeing to identify the purported juror who may have made the post.
The judge also ordered that Dean's defense attorney, Bob Gill, destroy anything identifying the juror in question once the investigation is complete.
According to court documents, when Dean’s defense learned of the social media post, a copy of it was offered for the record during deliberations for the punishment phase of the trial.
The attorneys claim the alleged social media post “sought opinions and information from persons outside the jury.”
The defense is also asked Judge Gallagher for the contact information for all the trial jurors to investigate their verdict procedure.
“The need to investigate either or both of these instances of possible jury misconduct constitutes good cause for release of the juror information under art. 35.29.,” the motion filed by the attorneys read.
Dean was convicted of manslaughter in the October 2019 shooting death of Atatiana Jefferson. He was sentenced to 11 years, 10 months and 12 days in prison.
His defense attorneys say the former officer was acting in self-defense and following his training after he saw Jefferson with a gun pointed at him.
During the punishment phase of the trial, Dean’s defense attorney Bob Gill tried to hammer the message, “There’s nothing to gain by sending this man to the penitentiary.”
Dean’s defense has tried on several occasions to have the trial moved from Tarrant County, due to the media spotlight and city leaders speaking out against the former officer. Immediately following Dean’s sentence, they filed an appeal.
WFAA spoke with legal expert Toby Shook Friday, who isn't surprised Dean's attorneys are seeking a new trial.
"Mr. Gill not only is a very good trial lawyer, he is a very good appellate lawyer. He has written books in the past about criminal procedure. So, he knows what he's doing," said Shook.
In another newly-filed court document Friday, Dean's defense team outlined 32 different requests as part of his appeal.
"I'm sure Aaron Dean, like all defendants, is holding out hope of some type of reprieve or a do over," said Shook.
Dean is currently at the W.F. Ramsey Unit in Rosharon, Texas. He’s eligible for parole on Nov. 18, 2028.