KNOXVILLE, Tenn (WVLT) -- A Hamblen County foster father has been found guilty of the lesser offense of voluntary manslaughter in connection to the November 2007 death of his foster child Jordan Shelton, 16.

Kenneth Taylor was also found guilty of reckless aggravated assault, a lesser charge than the aggravated child abuse count he also faced.

Taylor's attorney, Herb Moncier, had argued throughout the trial that Taylor put Shleton in a headlock out of self-defense when the boy went out of control after Taylor caught him smoking.

"He had a duty to restrain the child. That's what he did. This totally unexpected and unknown event occurred and here we are. Obviously, a three to six year probatable offense is light years away from life in prison," says Moncier.

But, prosecutors contended it was an intentional act and said he should be convicted of first degree murder.

"They're disappointed. They certainly felt like that he ought to be found guilty of the felony murder and the other charges but we went to the jury and asked them and tell us what they thought and give us their verdict," says District Attorney General Berkeley Bell.

After seven hours of deliberations the jury disagreed convicting him of the lesser charges.

Taylor faces up to ten years in prison when he is sentenced on Nov. 25.

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