But Garcia Zarate won’t serve any time in state custody because his sentence was reduced by the time he already served since being arrested.
He will be on parole for 48 months and remain in custody to face new federal charges filed against him on Dec. 5, shortly after his acquittal.
Garcia Zarate was convicted of felony possession of a firearm. The jury decided that was not responsible for the bullet he fired which ricocheted from the ground and fatally struck Steinle while she was strolling on the boardwalk with her father.
Garcia Zarate smiled prior to the sentencing as shook the hands of his lawyers. His attorneys demanded a new trial, but the judge denied the motion. The defense lawyer plan to appeal the judge’s ruling
U.S. Marshalls are expected to take Garcia Zarate into custody to face the new charges filed by a federal grand jury. He is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and being an “illegally present alien” in possession of a firearm.
The public defender assigned to Garcia Zarate told Fox News that the charges are “discriminatory” and have been filed on behalf of officials upset with the acquittal.
Garcia Zarate faces another 10 years in prison if he is convicted of the new federal charges. He could be arraigned as early as next week. Immigration officials said that they plan to deport him for the sixth time.
Kate Steinle’s killing raised a national discussion about illegal immigration and sanctuary city policies. President Donald Trump blamed Steinle’s death on San Francisco’s sanctuary city policies.
