CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Tony Bristol, the security guard found not guilty of a first-degree murder charge for shooting two men at a nightclub on Fort Campbell Boulevard in 2o17, was sentenced last week to serve time on strict probation.
After entering a guilty plea for the “convicted felon going armed” charge, which the jury did not deliberate on, Bristol was allowed to walk out of Judge William R. Goodman III’s courtroom on Oct. 14.
According to the rule docket, Bristol was sentenced to 13 years split confinement, with one year in county jail, and the rest of the balance to be served on probation through Community Corrections. He already served 273 days in 2o17 before posting bail, giving him enough jail credit to sidestep more prison time.
What this essentially means is that Bristol will serve 12 years on Community Corrections, which is, “a pretty intensive program,” according to Bristol’s attorney, Chase Smith.
“He will have to report twice a week, with incredibly intense supervision,” Smith continued.
Bristol, 33, was initially charged with first-degree felony murder, one count of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated assault, one count of convicted felon going armed, and two counts of possession of a firearm in commission of a dangerous felony.
He pleaded guilty to convicted felon going armed. Following a four-day trial in Goodman’s court, the jury found 33-year-old Bristol not guilty on all the other charges.
As a Range II offender with prior felony convictions, the minimum sentencing Bristol could receive was 12 years according to the law. Goodman decided to suspend that to Community Corrections.