The Associated Press
PRICHARD, Ala. — A federal appeals court has upheld the conviction and 10-month sentence of an Alabama police officer for lying about a prisoner injured during arrest.
A federal judge sentenced Jason Hardy Hunt, who was a narcotics detective in Prichard, Ala., to five months in prison and five months home detention.
James Woodard became agitated and argued with officers March 22, 2005 when he was detained, searched and then released. Officers tried to arrest him after he cursed and threatened them, and Hunt threw Woodard to the pavement, injuring his head.
Hunt reported that Woodard grabbed him first, and repeated the falsehood to an FBI agent almost a year later.
On appeal, Hunt said the evidence was insufficient to convict him of deliberate falsehood and that the 10-month sentence was excessive. A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals disagreed in an opinion filed Monday.