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Sentencing near in police beating of disabled man

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Defense lawyers say a former Spokane police officer should not spend any time in prison for using excessive force against a mentally disabled janitor who died after being arrested on suspicion of stealing money from an ATM.

Public humiliation and the loss of his career are punishment enough for Karl F. Thompson Jr., his attorneys say.

Federal prosecutors counter that Thompson should get 10 years in prison for his treatment of 36-year-old Otto Zehm more than six years ago.

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