Tiger attack survivor headed to prison SAN JOSE

Paul Dhaliwal (right) one of the two brothers injured in the tiger attack, leaves the funeral service for 17-year-old Carlos Sousa, Jr. in San Jose, Calif. on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2008. Sousa was killed in the Christmas Day tiger attack at the San Francisco Zoo less Paul Dhaliwal (right) one of the two brothers injured in the tiger attack, leaves the funeral service for 17-year-old Carlos Sousa, Jr. in San Jose, Calif. on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2008. Sousa was killed in the ... more Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Tiger attack survivor headed to prison 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

The younger of two brothers who survived a Christmas Day tiger attack at the San Francisco Zoo has been sentenced to 16 months in state prison for violating his probation in a felony reckless driving case where he led police on a 140 mph chase through San Jose in April 2007.

Paul Dhaliwal, 20, was sentenced in December to 30 days in the Santa Clara County jail and three years of probation in that case, but three days after sentencing he was cited for marijuana possession when he was found with about 1.8 grams in his pocket while in the parking lot of a Milpitas hotel, court records show. He was also arrested in March on suspicion of shoplifting video-game controllers at East Bay Target stores.

Dhaliwal was sentenced last week in Santa Clara County Superior Court to 16 months in prison for violating probation in the chase case, Deputy District Attorney Stuart Scott said. Dhaliwal also pleaded guilty Wednesday to misdemeanor battery on a police officer, resisting arrest and public intoxication stemming from a drunken scuffle with San Jose police in September, Scott said.

Prosecutors sought additional jail time for Paul Dhaliwal in that case, but Judge Michele McKay McCoy ran his sentence concurrent with the 16 months he had already received for violating probation.

"We really thought it was egregious behavior and this guy really needed some penalty consistent with that behavior," Scott said.

Dhaliwal's attorney, Roger Hecht, could not be reached for comment.

Dhaliwal's older brother, Kulbir Dhaliwal, 27, who also survived the tiger attack and is charged in that September altercation with San Jose police, has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to go to trial on Monday.

The younger Dhaliwal may still face more prison time if convicted in a separate case in Alameda County, where he is accused of shoplifting video game equipment from three Target stores.

"What happened in Santa Clara County does not control what happens in the case here," said Ann Diem, an Alameda County assistant district attorney.

Paul Dhaliwal faces three counts of commercial burglary and two counts of grand theft for allegedly stealing Nintendo Wii controllers and similar equipment, authorities said. He is scheduled to be transferred to an Alameda County jail shortly and must deal with his case there before beginning his prison term, Scott said.

The sentencing comes as the two brothers are preparing the sue San Francisco and the zoo, saying they suffered serious injuries and emotional harm during the attack, which killed Paul Dhaliwal's close friend Carlos Sousa Jr., 17, before police shot and killed the 243-pound Siberian tiger. The brothers also contend the zoo orchestrated a smear campaign against them.

Sousa's family members are preparing to sue the city and the zoo as well, their attorney said.