MARION — Fourth Judicial District Attorney Michael Jackson went into circuit court here Monday expecting to select a jury to hear the murder case of a black man shot to death at a civil rights protest in 1965.

Instead, the district attorney, who is not related to Jimmie Lee Jackson, came away having met all three goals he had set for the case against James Bonard Fowler without having to go through a trial after Fowler pleaded guilty to misdemeanor second-degree manslaughter.

“We’re pleased we fulfilled those three goals: He took responsibility for the shooting; apologized to the family and he will serve some time,” Jackson said after the hearing.

Jimmie Lee Jackson was shot in the stomach as he tried to prevent his mother from being beaten at Mack’s Café. Jackson and others had returned from a mass meeting and march to draw attention to the need for voting rights. Shortly after his death, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference organized the Selma-to-Montgomery march.

Fowler will spend six months in the Geneva County jail and serve six months probation, according to the sentence handed down in court.

The former Alabama State Trooper’s attorney, George Beck, told The Associated Press Fowler agreed to plead guilty to the reduced charge because he was concerned he couldn’t get a fair trial in Perry County and his health is poor.

Jackson acknowledged Fowler’s poor health and age, saying, “This is almost like a death sentence for him.”

In a case that has dragged out for nearly three years, Jackson said his office would have accepted a plea bargain earlier, but the other side pushed for probation only.

“We insisted he go to jail,” the district attorney said.

Jackson said the case could have gone to trial, but he was concerned Fowler would die during the proceedings if the case had dragged on.

The family accepted the guilty plea, which Jackson said would bring some closure and healing in the community.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.