Former De Soto Officer Found Guilty of Assault, Sentencing Set for January

Jefferson Co., Mo. (KFMO) - A Jefferson County jury has convicted former De Soto Police Officer James Daly of three counts of fourth-degree assault, class A misdemeanors, for using excessive force on a handcuffed prisoner in September 2020. Daly, who is scheduled for sentencing on January 30, could face up to one year in jail and a fine of $2,000 for each count.

Court documents indicate that Daly, of Imperial, allegedly restrained the prisoner by his hair and throat, pushing him onto a bench and holding him by the neck. The victim reported airway restriction during the incident, though his death in September 2021 was unrelated.

De Soto Police Chief Jeff McCreary initiated an investigation in November 2020, leading to Daly's charges after the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office reviewed the case, which included video evidence. Jefferson County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Courtney Goodwin led the prosecution, securing a conviction without the victim’s testimony. Prosecuting Attorney Trisha Stefanski commended Goodwin's work in a social media post.

A second former officer, Bethany Zarcone, also faced charges related to the incident, pleading guilty to fourth-degree assault for kneeing the prisoner. She received a suspended 90-day jail sentence and two years of probation.