Los Angeles police officer sentenced to 16 months in jail for striking a woman who later died
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A veteran Los Angeles police officer has been sentenced to 16 months in jail for kicking and striking a handcuffed woman who later died.
Fifty-year-old Mary O'Callaghan was sentenced Thursday to the maximum three years in jail, but the judge suspended the last 20 months of her term.
O'Callaghan was found guilty of assault under color of authority during the arrest of 35-year-old Alesia Thomas in 2012.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A dashboard camera recorded O'Callaghan kicking Thomas in the groin, abdomen and upper thigh, and jabbing her in the throat.
Thomas, who lost consciousness in the patrol car, was pronounced dead at a hospital.
O'Callaghan was not charged in connection with the death. An autopsy found Thomas had cocaine in her system, but the cause of death was listed as undetermined.