Youth Gators Football Coach Guilty Of Attacking Referee

A youth football coach last year will face jail time after a Sarasota County jury convicted him of battery Wednesday.

The jury found Dexter Austin, 44, of Bradenton, guilty of battery when he attacked a referee on Aug. 27, 2011, during a game against a North Port team at , according to court records. The video of the incident went viral and made national headlines.

Austin will be sentenced July 20, but will probably not get a maximum five-year sentence, reports The Herald-Tribune: 

Prosecutor Shanna Hourihan said she will not seek the maximum five years, but will request a sentence of 120 days in county jail and two years probation.

"Dexter Austin kicked a defenseless man while he was in a vulnerable position," she said. "We feel justice was served. Attacking a sports official just because you don't like the call will not be tolerated."

Austin was arrested with two other coaches — Timothy Howard, 38, of Sarasota, and gator coach Antonio Bradley, 28, of North Port and a 14-year-old player during the incident. All were charged with battery. Howard was placed on probation in April and the judge witheld adjudication for the crime while Bradley was found guilty of his battery charge in March and was also placed on probation in April, according to court records.

The fight led to the as well as the and was