San Ysidro
A veteran U.S. Customs inspector has been found guilty of assaulting a Mexican alien and violating the man’s civil rights. William Grimes, 41, was convicted Friday of the Oct. 27, 1985 misdemeanor assault against Jaime Gonzalez. U.S. Magistrate Roger Curtis McKee allowed Grimes to remain free on $2,000 bond pending sentencing on October 24.
Grimes’ first trial in August ended in a hung jury, with 11 to 1 for conviction.
According to the testimony of other Customs inspectors and Immigration and Naturalization Service agents, Gonzalez was detained by federal agents after he allegedly entered the United States illegally at the San Ysidro border crossing. While the man was handcuffed and in the custody of two INS officers, Grimes approached Gonzalez, cursed him and punched him in the chest, said several witnesses.
Grimes has been on an unpaid leave of absence since December. He could receive up to a year in jail and a $100,000 fine.
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