Former officer gets 17 years in beating

MILWAUKEE - A former police officer was sentenced Thursday to more than 17 years in prison for the beating of a biracial man in a case that outraged the city and sent protesters into the streets.

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A judge also sentenced Jon Bartlett, 36, to three years supervision and ordered him to pay $16,365 in restitution.

Bartlett was convicted with two other former officers of taking part in the beating of Frank Jude Jr. outside a housewarming party in October 2004.

The other two former officers, Daniel Masarik, 27, and Andrew Spengler, 28, were scheduled to be sentenced later Thursday.

A federal jury determined in July that the three violated Jude's civil rights and conspired to assault him while acting as officers. Officer Ryan Packard was acquitted of federal charges.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

MILWAUKEE (AP) ― Three white former police officers face at least a decade behind bars for violating the civil rights of a biracial man during a street confrontation, a case that outraged the city and sent protesters into the streets.

Sentencing was scheduled Thursday for Jon Bartlett, 36, Daniel Masarik, 27, and Andrew Spengler, 28, who were convicted of taking part in the beating of Frank Jude Jr. outside Spengler's housewarming party in October 2004.

A jury determined in July that the three violated Jude's civil rights and conspired to assault him while acting as officers. Officer Ryan Packard was acquitted of federal charges.

The trial is the second round in a case that has haunted Milwaukee. The three men were acquitted of most state charges by an all-white jury in April 2006, angering the community. Federal authorities filed the civil rights charges six months later.

In the days after the state trial, black and white residents, including the mayor, expressed their outrage at community meetings. Up to 2,000 people marched from the Milwaukee County courthouse to the federal courthouse.

Jude, 29, said he had been at a party on Oct. 24, 2004, when a group of white men who identified themselves as off-duty officers kicked and punched him, put a knife to his throat and jammed a pen in his ears as he begged for mercy. Jude said he heard Spengler call him a racial slur.

"They came close to killing Mr. Jude," said his attorney, Jonathan Safran. "They caused him serious permanent physical injuries and mental injuries he and his family will have to deal with the rest of their lives."

Jude said the confrontation began as he and a friend were leaving the party, when a group of men surrounded their truck and dragged him out, accusing him of taking Spengler's badge. No badge was ever found.

The community has cried injustice since the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel published a front-page photo in February 2005 showing Jude's swollen, misshapen face just after the beating.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mel Johnson was expected to ask the judge to sentence Bartlett and Masarik to 15 years or more in federal prison and possibly a few years less for Spengler.

Bartlett's attorney, Bridget Boyle, didn't return a call for comment Wednesday. Masarik's attorney, Jonathan Smith, and Spengler's attorney, Michael Hart, declined comment.

The police department disciplined 13 officers after the beating, including nine who were fired. Two of the fired officers won back their jobs, including Packard after a 20-day suspension.

Four others have pleaded guilty to similar federal charges. One has been sentenced to two years in prison and another a year in prison along with a year of probation, a fine of $3,000 and 100 hours of community service.

Two others are scheduled for sentencing Dec. 6.