San Diego
U.S. Customs inspector William Grimes, 41, was sentenced Friday to one year in federal prison for assaulting a Mexican alien and violating the man’s civil rights. U.S. Magistrate Roger McKee also ordered Grimes to undergo a 90-day psychiatric study.
Defense attorney John A. Mitchell said he will appeal the sentence, and McKee scheduled a hearing for 9. a.m. Monday, at which Mitchell will argue for Grimes’ release on bail pending the appeal.
Grimes, a 12-year Customs veteran, was convicted in September on one misdemeanor count of assaulting Jaime Gonzalez. Witnesses said Gonzalez, detained by federal agents at the San Ysidro border crossing, was punched in the chest by Grimes while handcuffed on Oct. 27 of last year.
Grimes’ first trial in August ended in a hung jury that voted 11-1 for conviction.
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