A female Los Angeles police officer has been convicted of felony assault in connection with the 2012 death of a handcuffed woman she was observed on dashboard camera repeatedly kicking after she was taken into custody.

According to Yahoo, Officer Mary O'Callaghan, 50, faces a maximum of three years behind bars when she is sentenced on July 23. She was immediately taken into custody following this week's verdict.

An autopsy listed Alesia Thomas' cause of death as undetermined, though O'Callaghan can clearly be seen kicking the victim at least seven times in the groin, abdomen and upper thigh after she was placed in the back of a police cruiser. Thomas lost consciousness and was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Police had gone on a search for Thomas after she left her two children outside a police station. Investigators claimed she resisted arrest, but since the incident O'Callaghan had been relieved of duty without pay pending an administrative hearing.

Local community activist Najee Ali noted Thomas' family was grateful for the verdict but added "no one is celebrating" because Thomas is gone. He added the family is now hoping that O'Callaghan receives the maximum sentence as an example to all that police brutality will not be tolerated.

During the trial, O'Callaghan's attorney, Robert Rico, tried to score points with the jury by stressing that his client had an exemplary record with the department and no complaints against her had been upheld over her 19 years on the force. He indicated he plans to appeal the decision and seek a new trial.

Rico added he also plans to seek probation as a minimum for O'Callaghan based on her military service and career before the charges.