A former Inkster police officer who was convicted of beating an unarmed man last year can attend the jail's boot camp.

On Feb. 2, William Melendez was sentenced to 13 months in prison for the beating of Floyd Dent during a traffic stop in March 2015. He was convicted on a charge of Assault with Intent to do Great Bodily Harm.

The Michigan Department of Corrections found the Melendez was a good candidate for a prison alternative, and placed him in a prison boot camp in Chelsea, Mich. He was in two weeks, but then Judge Vonda Evans found out.

She changed her sentencing order, but by then, she had lost jurisdiction in the case. The Michigan Court of Appeals vacated Evans' ruling, which means Melendez is again eligible for boot camp.

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said it is "unconscionable" to her that that MDOC would "irresponsibly and reckless decide" that Melendez was eligible for boot camp.

The state says there are 326 inmates are in the boot camp, with a capacity of 400.

If Melendez goes there for 90 to 120 days, he would then be eligible for parole rather than serving the entire minimum of 13 months.