A former Pinellas County deputy is getting three years probation for attempted murder.
Timothy Virden, 62, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to attempted manslaughter. He faced up to five years in prison for shooting a man in late 2015 during a traffic stop while working for the sheriff's office.
An investigation determined Virden was not justified in shooting the man and he was arrested and charged.
The Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney’s Office struck a plea deal with Virden that called for no prison time because there may have been just enough evidence to convince a jury to acquit the ex-deputy, said Executive Assistant State Attorney Kendall Davidson.
Virden may not even serve the full three years of probation. He can apply for early termination halfway through his probation, court records show.