Potter was
convicted in December of first-degree manslaughter predicated on reckless use/handling of a firearm and second-degree manslaughter for fatally shooting Wright.
Potter is required to serve two-thirds of that time (or 16 months) of her sentence in prison. With good behavior, she will be eligible for supervised release for the other third.
The judge said there will be a fine of $1,000 and a surcharge of $78 to be taken out of prison wages or due within 180 days. She noted that Potter has the right to appeal the conviction and sentence.
The sentence is a significant downward departure from what
state sentencing guidelines recommend for someone with no prior criminal record, like Potter. The guidelines give a judge discretion to sentence convicted offenders with no criminal history roughly between 6 and 8.5 years in prison, with a presumptive sentence of 86 months.