Robert Bates, 73, turned himself in Tuesday morning to face a second-degree manslaughter charge stemming from when he fatally shot Eric Harris Tulsa County Jail A wealthy reserve deputy who says he fatally shot an unarmed man because he mistook his gun for his Taser has been permitted by a judge go on a Caribbean vacation for the next month, the Tulsa World reports.

Robert Bates, 73, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a second-degree manslaughter charge for the killing of Eric Harris earlier this month. Bates' lawyer told a court Tuesday that the local prosecutor didn't have "any problem" with his travel to the Bahamas, according to the Tulsa World.

Bates’ plea in Tulsa District Court came after he was required to put up only a $25,000 bond despite having sold hold his insurance firm in 1999 for about $6 million, according to another report in the Tulsa World.

Subsequently, he donated thousands of dollars in vehicles and other equipment to the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office where he would later join as a volunteer, according to records released by the sheriff's office and cited by the Tulsa World.

In 2008, Bates reportedly became an advanced reserve deputy for the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office. His close ties to the department have raised questions about whether Bates was "paying for the privilege of working alongside real officers," as the Tulsa World notes.

A Tulsa man was reportedly jailed Monday after being charged only with waving a gun during a road rage incident. He was eventually released on a $20,000 bond. This individual did not even fire his gun.

Bates has already admitted to shooting Harris dead, was released on a $25,000 bond without ever spending the night in a jail cell and will now be allowed to go on vacation despite further reports that he is only certified to use two weapons. Neither was the pistol he fired at Harris, according to local Fox affiliate KOKI.

Clark Brewster, Bates attorney, told Business Insider that the Bahamas trip was planned months ago and that his client can not simply be expected to not take his family on vacation because this incident occurred in the interim.

"He’s had a trip planned for three months, tickets are bought ... suddenly he has to cancel his trip with his five grandchildren?" Brewster asked. "Can he leave his house, can he go out to eat, can he drive his car — or is that too grandiose?"

Brewster further refuted claims made by Tulsa media that his client was not certified to use the handgun with which he has admitted shooting Harris: "Those were range reports. Those are the reports on accuracy ... he did train with this weapon."

Bates was not in violation of any laws by using the handgun, according to Brewster, who claimed much of the reporting about his client is false.

Brewster also refuted claims the reserve deputy took high ranking sheriff's office officials on trips with one caveat: Bates did attend trips with authorities — one of whom Brewster claims is a lifelong friend of his client — but it is not clear who paid for them.

"If he did pay for them, if his generousity did extend that far, then so be it," Brewster said.

The Tulsa County Prosecutor’s Office declined to speak on either case, instead referring Business Insider to the Tulsa District Court.

A court clerk reached by Business Insider declined to speak and requested a call back later in the afternoon for further comment on both cases.

Bates is due back in court on July 9.