San Diego

Sagon Penn was sentenced Thursday to 33 days in County Jail for violating his probation imposed in a 1989 vandalism case.

Penn, 29, was taken into custody immediately after the ruling by San Diego Municipal Judge Charles Patrick, who cited 11 contacts between Penn and police in the last two years in which some type of disturbance occurred.

In a widely publicized 1985 case, Penn shot and killed San Diego Police Officer Thomas Riggs, and wounded Officer Donovan Jacobs and a civilian ride-along.

Penn was acquitted of murder, manslaughter, attempted murder, and assault in two trials in 1986 and 1987 when he claimed he shot in self-defense after Jacobs made racial slurs. Penn is black and Jacobs is white.

On April 27, the judge found Penn to be in violation of the probation imposed in the vandalism case by causing a disturbance at his girlfriend’s apartment March 11, for which he was arrested.

Patrick reimposed probation for Penn and ordered his therapy sessions to be continued and a review of his progress in six months.

The judge sentenced Penn to 60 days in jail, but gave him credit for 27 days already served, which leaves him with 33 days to serve.

Penn made a rambling statement to the judge before Patrick imposed the sentence.

“It’s unfair . . . . I’m doing my best to be a good person,” Penn said.