A former state trooper who admitted to kicking a handcuffed man in a southeast Kansas jail has been sentenced to nine months in prison.

James Carson of Independence pleaded guilty in January to one count of violating civil rights in his capacity as a law enforcement officer, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said in a release. In his plea, Carson admitted to using excessive force on a man he arrested.

Carson is a former Kansas Highway Patrol trooper. He was sentenced to prison on Thursday.

After Carson lawfully arrested a man and took him to the Labette County Jail, he escorted the man into a booking area where there were at least five other law enforcement officials. While the man’s hands were cuffed behind his back, Carson kicked his legs out from underneath him, causing him to fall on his back on the floor, McAllister said.

“Carson admitted in court that he used force against (the man) for the purpose of punishment and not for a legitimate law enforcement purpose,” McAllister said.

In his plea agreement, Carson agreed to turn over his law enforcement credentials and never again work in anything related to law enforcement.

Carson had faced a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Source: https://www.kansas.com/news/local/crime/article214787335.html