Former West Mifflin police Officer Noel G. Missig got a jail sentence and a lecture from Judge David R. Cashman yesterday.

After his July conviction for assaulting a juvenile suspect and later lying about it, guidelines called for a probation sentence.

But then a juror accused Mr. Missig of threatening him after the trial.

Defense witnesses testified that the contact with juror Jeffrey Perozich was always cordial and that he came to them with claims of improprieties with the jury.

But it wasn't enough for Judge Cashman to spare Mr. Missig jail time.

He was sentenced to six to 12 months in jail and five years' probation, during which time he cannot work as a law enforcement officer.

Judge Cashman noted that Mr. Missig knew throughout the trial that Mr. Perozich was a neighbor of Mr. Missig's sister, who was encouraged not to attend the trial so Mr. Perozich wouldn't recognize her.

"You tried to play him as an ace in the hole," Judge Cashman said. "There is a continued belief that you can manipulate the system and take advantage of your position."

Mr. Missig, who remains out on bond pending an appeal, might face further charges based on his contact with Mr. Perozich. A spokesman for the Allegheny County district attorney's office said it appears no one from the defense contacted any other jurors.

Because of the possible charges, Mr. Missig, 40, did not take the stand during a sentencing hearing that spanned three days. He only spoke briefly before Judge Cashman handed down the sentence.

"I stand in front of you a broken man," Mr. Missig said. "I lost my job and my pension. This has caused my family incredible stress. ... It was a lapse of stupidity on my part to go over there [to Mr. Perozich's house]. But there was no intimidation."

Mr. Perozich, of Clairton, testified Monday that Mr. Missig threatened to have his commercial driver's license taken away if he didn't sign a false statement saying he voted guilty because he received a death threat before the verdict.

Mr. Perozich refused to sign a statement, provided to him by private investigator Joe Rice, that detailed jury deliberations and said an unknown person called Mr. Perozich the night before the verdict and threatened his life if he didn't vote guilty. Mr. Perozich said he was the last juror to switch his vote.

Mr. Rice, who was working for defense attorney Stephen R. Greenberg, testified that Mr. Perozich told him everything in the statement.

Mr. Perozich said Mr. Rice made the whole thing up.