Immigrant acquitted of San Francisco pier killing gets time served for gun charge

SAN FRANCISCO -- A Mexican man acquitted of murder in the shooting death of a San Francisco woman that sparked a national immigration debate was sentenced to time served for illegal gun possession Friday.

Jose Ines Garcia Zarate was found not guilty of murder, involuntary manslaughter and assault with a deadly weapon in connection with the July 2014 shooting death of Kate Steinle at San Francisco's Pier 14. He was, however, convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

After his acquittal, a federal grand jury indicted Garcia Zarate Dec. 5 on the charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition as well as being an "illegally present alien" in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

"Mr. Garcia Zarate is grateful to have been exonerated of murder, as he has no history of violence. He is also grateful to Tony Serra for taking his case," said Matt Gonzalez, chief attorney of the San Francisco Public Defender's Office.