NATCHEZ — Patrick Conner is a free man.

Thursday Conner was in Adams County Circuit Court for sentencing after pleading guilty to a charge of accessory after the fact to aggravated assault in late July in relation to the 2007 death of Peter Jackson.

Conner, 48, received a five-year suspended sentence, five years of probation and $1,000 in fines plus court costs.

While District Attorney Ronnie Harper said prosecutors in the case believed Conner helped his aunt Mary McQuarters, who was found guilty of manslaughter in Jackson’s death last week, to clean and move Jackson’s body, the judge in the case disagreed.

Adams County Circuit Court Judge Forrest “Al” Johnson said he felt the prosecution failed in providing any evidence that Conner actually helped McQuarters after Jackson’s death.

“I see no reason to send you up to the penitentiary,” Johnson said.

And while Johnson did not sentence Conner to any prison time, he did admonish Conner for his failure to provide aid to Jackson as he bled to death.

During a September 2007 fight between longtime couple Jackson and McQuarters, McQuarters cut Jackson with a piece of glass, a wound which ultimately caused his death.

In a written statement from Conner, read by Harper, Conner said he asked Jackson on more than one occasion if he wanted medical attention and Jackson refused.

Johnson said had either Conner or McQuarters called 911, he believes Jackson would still be alive.

“All you had to do was do the right thing,” Johnson said. “You didn’t. And that’s why you’re here.”

Johnson said Conner’s age, lack of a criminal history, except for a DUI 10 years ago and the stack of more than 50 letters written by friends and family asking for leniency contributed to his ruling.

Conner declined to comment after Thursday’s ruling.