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US 'fight club' worker convicted US 'fight club' worker sentenced
(1 day later)
A former worker at a Texas state school for mentally disabled people has been convicted of injuring them during orchestrated fights. A man in Texas has been sentenced to three years in prison for causing injury during orchestrated fights at a school for mentally disabled people.
Jesse Salazar, 25, was among six former employees of the Corpus Christi State School charged in connection with what police described as a "fight club".Jesse Salazar, 25, was among six former employees of the Corpus Christi State School charged in connection with what police described as a "fight club".
The trial in Corpus Christi now moves into the penalty phase, with Salazar facing up to 10 years in prison. He was convicted on Thursday by a Nueces County jury and had faced up to 10 years in jail.
Salazar apologised for what had happened, saying "it was dumb".Salazar apologised for what had happened, saying "it was dumb".
"I'm sorry for what took place and it shouldn't have happened," he said."I'm sorry for what took place and it shouldn't have happened," he said.
The jury found Salazar guilty of intentionally causing injury to a disabled person.The jury found Salazar guilty of intentionally causing injury to a disabled person.
Last week, Vincent Johnson, another former school worker, pleaded guilty and was given a two-year suspended prison sentence.Last week, Vincent Johnson, another former school worker, pleaded guilty and was given a two-year suspended prison sentence.
The case came to light when officers found a mobile phone in March with almost 20 videos showing the residents punching and kicking each other.The case came to light when officers found a mobile phone in March with almost 20 videos showing the residents punching and kicking each other.
The footage allegedly shows staff from the Corpus Christi forcing the residents into fights, apparently for their entertainment. The footage allegedly shows staff from Corpus Christi forcing the residents into fights, apparently for their entertainment.
Salazar's defence team had argued he was trying to prevent the fights from going ahead.Salazar's defence team had argued he was trying to prevent the fights from going ahead.