Toronto officer gets nine-month sentence for Dafonte Miller assault

Toronto police officer Michael Theriault has been sentenced to nine months in jail in the beating of a young man.

Const. Theriault was off duty during the 2016 confrontation with Dafonte Miller.

He was convicted of assault in the attack that left Miller with one eye.

Justice Joseph Di Luca handed down the nine-month sentence on Thursday, along with 12 months of probation and a five-year weapons prohibition.

He says the sentence takes into account Theriault’s role as a police officer and the racialized context in which the assault took place.

Prosecutors sought a jail term of 12 to 15 months and several other restrictions.

Defence lawyers asked for an absolute discharge or suspended sentence.

Theriault was released on bail because he’s appealed the guilty verdict that was handed down in June.