Oroville >> Patrick Feaster, the former Paradise police officer sentenced to 180 days in jail for a deadly on-duty shooting last year, could be released in half that time if he stays out of trouble while in custody.

Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea confirmed Monday that Feaster is entitled to earn “half-time” credit, meaning Feaster could be released from custody after serving 90 days of his 180-day jail term.

Should the former officer break jail rules or incur some sort of discipline, some of that time could be taken away as part of a disciplinary process, Honea said.

“We’re going to do everything in accordance with the law,” the sheriff said.

Feaster was sentenced Friday in Butte County Superior Court in Oroville to 180 days in jail and three years of probation following his felony conviction of involuntary manslaughter in October.

A jury found Feaster guilty of involuntary manslaughter stemming from the shooting of 26-year-old Andrew Thomas in the early morning hours of Nov. 26, 2015, in Paradise. Feaster shot Thomas in the neck as approached an overturned vehicle that Thomas had been trying to climb out of.

Feaster was transferred on Friday from Butte County to Lassen County, where he will serve his jail time at the jail in Susanville, Honea said.

The sheriff made arrangements to house the former officer outside of Butte County to protect his safety, the safety of other inmates and the safety of jail staff. Given the local publicity Feaster’s case has received, Honea said it was also a concern that Feaster could have been attacked while in custody.

Further, Feaster had worked as a correctional officer for the Butte County Sheriff’s Office before he became a police officer in Paradise, Honea said, adding that Feaster’s knowledge of the inner workings of Butte County Jail posed security issues.

Honea said it’s not uncommon for sheriffs to assist each other in such situations. He noted the jail in Oroville currently houses an inmate from Yuba County who posed similar concerns.

Housing police officers convicted of crimes is not an easy task, Honea noted. If Feaster had been held in Butte County Jail, the sheriff said he likely would have been kept in a single cell away from other inmates, escorted by deputies throughout the facility, and only allowed to go to the jail’s exercise yard by himself.

Some of those measures may already have been taken by officials in Lassen County. Honea said it is up to officials there to determine how their inmates are housed.

After Feaster completes his sentence, the sheriff said he will be processed out of Butte County Jail.

If Lassen County is unable to accommodate Feaster for his entire sentence, the former officer would be transferred back to Butte County, Honea said, adding that it’s his intention to have Feaster serve his ordered jail time in jail.

Contact reporter Andre Byik at 896-7760.