A Los Angeles police officer who assaulted a handcuffed woman in a patrol vehicle was sentenced Thursday to 16 months in jail.
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Officer Mary O’Callaghan was convicted last month of assault under the color of authority, meaning she abused her role as an LAPD officer.
CNN affiliate KTLA has earlier reported that prosecutors didn’t charge O’Callaghan with manslaughter or murder because there was insufficient evidence to prove her conduct caused Thomas’ death. Dash-cam footage from multiple cop cars showed how O’Callaghan “jabbed at [Alesia] Thomas’ throat with an open hand and threated to kick her in the crotch”, before striking Thomas with her boot, according to the Los Angeles Times. Later O’Callaghan and another officer noticed that Thomas had lost consciousness but they seemed to be in no urgency to summon medical help.
Thomas was transported to a hospital, where she died. Cocaine intoxication likely was a “major factor” in Thomas’ death, according to autopsy findings, though the coroner’s report lists the cause of death as undetermined.
“Mother to mother, I am extremely sorry for the loss of your daughter”, O’Callaghan said. She had faced a possible maximum sentence of three years in prison.
Mary O’Callaghan’s sentencing comes amid intense scrutiny and criticism nationwide of police use of force. “This ain’t a good sign”, she said.
O’Callaghan thought she was “faking her distress”, prosecutors said.
“It should be clear to everyone that the LAPD and the criminal justice system will hold officers accountable for their actions when they operate outside the law”.
She turned around to face Alesia Thomas’ mother, Sandra Thomas in the audience and began to cry.
But O’Callaghan’s attorney, Robert Rico, disagreed, telling jurors that the recording instead showed his client pushing Thomas with her boot.
In his closing argument, Rico said the real question for jurors was whether the force his client used was reasonable under the circumstances.
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O’Callghan has been relieved of duty without pay, according to the press release. Thomas wasn’t complying with the officers’ orders, he said.
