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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Businesses, drivers mixed on Highway 62 project impact ... Commissioners push Breidenthal to repay Jackson County ... Phoenix grad killed while changing tire in Atlanta ... Businesses, drivers mixed on Highway 62 project impact ... Commissioners push Breidenthal to repay Jackson County ... Phoenix grad killed while changing tire in Atlanta ... LANE COUNTY JAIL Eugene police officer convicted of assaulting jail inmate Comment By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Jun. 23, 2016 at 6:15 PM Updated Jun 23, 2016 at 6:16 PM By The Associated Press Posted Jun. 23, 2016 at 6:15 PM Updated Jun 23, 2016 at 6:16 PM » Social News EUGENE — A Eugene police officer who roughed up a suspect at the Lane County Jail has been found guilty of misdemeanor assault and official misconduct. Officer John Sharlow faces a maximum of one year in jail when he's sentenced Friday. Sharlow waived his right to a jury trial, opting to have Judge Mustafa Kasubhai decide whether he broke the law two years ago when he grabbed the handcuffed man around the neck and pulled him from a bench to the concrete floor — an incident caught on surveillance video. The judge said he didn't find the act to be a justifiable use of force. The officer turned toward his supporters with a troubled look after hearing Wednesday's verdict. He exited through a side door without taking questions. Sharlow's attorney, Larry Matasar, argued at trial that the officer acted in self-defense, becoming physical with the inmate because he needed to maintain order. The victim, Arik Bumpas, testified earlier this week, but wasn't in the courtroom for the verdict, The Register-Guard reported. Brian Michaels, a lawyer who represents Bumpas in a pending civil lawsuit, told the newspaper in a telephone interview that it's rare for a police officer to be prosecuted, and commended Kasubhai for "seeing through the politics." Sharlow testified that he grabbed Bumpas because he thought the handcuffed man was going to stand up from the jail bench and become aggressive. Sharlow said he was not trying to injure Bumpas, and asserted he had intended to grab the Eugene man by an arm. Sharlow testified he was "very surprised" when he viewed the video and saw that he had put his hands around Bumpas' neck. "I can't say why exactly my hands went to that area," Sharlow testified. Sharlow had arrested Bumpas outside a downtown Eugene bar shortly before the jailhouse assault. Prosecutors initially charged Bumpas with attempted assault of a police officer and resisting arrest, but dismissed the case after Sharlow became the subject of an investigation. By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Jun. 23, 2016 at 6:15 PM Updated Jun 23, 2016 at 6:16 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501