Man Gets 409-Day Sentence in Racial Assault

A 20-year-old Rancho Penasquitos man was ordered released from jail Monday after being given credit for time served in a racially motivated incident in which a black man was injured.

Christopher Leon, who is white, pleaded no contest to assault with a deadly weapon in an April 4, 1989, incident with a 44-year-old man who was attacked after accompanying a white woman to her car in San Diego.

San Diego Superior Court Judge Jesus Rodriguez Monday sentenced Leon to 409 days in jail and gave him credit for those days already spent in jail including credits for good behavior.

Rodriguez ordered Leon to pay $3,000 in restitution to the victim, who suffered a broken nose, broken ribs, an eye injury, and back injuries. The victim was struck with steel-toed boots and a cane.

Leon spent 90 days at Chino State Prison on a diagnostic study ordered Dec. 11 to evaluate whether he should be sent to prison or placed on probation.

Rodriguez placed the defendant on five years’ probation. Leon, who has been in jail since his arrest after the attack, could have received a seven years in prison.