A jury Friday rejected the state's charge of 2nd degree murder and instead found Chance Loftis guilty of reckless endangerment, a misdemeanor.
Loftis, 27 was charged in the 2012 death of Donald Rogers, 46, whose body was found floating in the Tennessee River. Loftis and Travis Jenkins were both charged with murder and aggravated animal cruelty, but were tried separately, with Loftis' eight-day trial first.
During the trial, prosecutors said Loftis and Jenkins beat Rogers to death after a dispute in the river. Defense attorney Mary Sullivan Moore called an expert witness who testified the state's autopsy was inconclusive and poorly performed, casting doubt on whether Loftis actually caused Rogers' death.
Jurors found Loftis not guilty of the animal cruelty charge. He will face 11 months and 29 days in prison, but because he's already been jailed for 33 months will likely be released to rehabilitation program The Transformation Project after a Monday hearing, his attorney said.