The Associated Press
SAN ANTONIO (AP) - A Central Texas police officer faces up to 35 years in prison after being convicted of a civil rights violation in the severe beating of a handcuffed suspect.
Crystal City officer Jimmy Aguilar, convicted Friday, will be sentenced Dec. 13 before a U.S. district judge. The case involved a 2001 traffic stop.
Aguilar was convicted of violating the civil rights of Victor Jimenez, 29, by shoving a pistol into his mouth and assaulting him; of lying to federal agents and of persuading other police officers to withhold testimony from a grand jury. He was acquitted of another count.
Three officers testified against Aguilar, 34, during the trial.
“Basically, a police officer exercised a rather wanton assault on a handcuffed arrestee. He convinced his fellow officers to lie and he continued to lie about it for almost two years. We felt that was intolerable,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Baumann.
Attorneys representing Aguilar said the wrong person was being punished and pointed out that Jimenez has a violent history.
Jimenez also has filed a civil lawsuit against Aguilar and Crystal City.