A former Homer Police Department officer will spend six months behind bars for violating the civil rights of a woman and lying about the incident to the FBI.

U.S. Attorney Stephanie Finley reported 66-year-old Willie Fred Knowles admitted in an August guilty plea pushed a woman down and struck her face and body without legal justification in October 2012.

He also admitted to telling the FBI that the woman started the incident by grabbing him and jumping on his back. He also initially denied ever having hit the woman.

Knowles is also sentenced to three years of supervised released as well as having to pay a $1,500 fine.

The case was investigated by the FBI and Louisiana State Police.

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