DE SOTO, Mo. — A Jefferson County jury has found former De Soto Police Officer James Daly guilty of three counts of fourth-degree assault, which are Class A misdemeanors. Daly is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 30, according to court documents.
A Class A misdemeanor carries a penalty of up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $2,000.
Daly of Imperial on Sept. 30, 2020, allegedly held a handcuffed prisoner by the hair and throat. He then allegedly pushed the victim onto a bench and held the prisoner by his neck on the bench for “a period of time,” the case’s probable-cause statement said.
Investigators reported that the victim said his airway was restricted while Daly allegedly held the man by his throat, the report said. Court records said the victim died on Sept. 18, 2021. His death was not related to the alleged assault.
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