Former H.S. Player Freed on Bond

Monday, May 8th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

SAN ANTONIO (AP) â€” Lawyers posted a $30,000 appeal bond Monday to secure the release of a teen-ager sentenced to prison for delivering a forearm to the head of another player during a high school basketball game.

Tony Limon, 18, who played for South San Antonio High School, could be released some time this week from the Garza West state prison near Beeville, said Carlos Uresti, one of his attorneys.

State Judge Mark Luitjen, who sentenced Limon in February to five years in prison for aggravated assault, approved the appeal bond on Friday.

Defense attorneys are asking the 4th Court of Appeals to grant Limon a new trial. The appellate process could take six months or longer.

While out of prison, Limon must remain at home under ``house arrest'' and wear an electronic monitor.

The aggravated assault charge was filed because of an incident in last year's game between South San Antonio and San Antonio East Central High School.

Videotape footage shows Limon and Brent Holmes running on the basketball court. Limon then hit Holmes in the head with his forearm, knocking him down. Holmes sustained cuts, a broken nose, a concussion and underwent surgery.

No foul was called for the hit, and Limon played the rest of the game, which South San Antonio lost. School officials later suspended Limon for the rest of the season, but he graduated last spring.

Limon was indicted last summer on the charge and pleaded no contest in exchange for a sentence that could range from probation to six years in prison. Limon applied for and expected probation.

But at the sentencing on Feb. 7, Luitjen sentenced him to five years behind bars, noting that Limon was already on probation on a conviction for attempted burglary.

Limon and his family are happy about his impending release, but realize the legal ordeal is not over, Uresti said.

``Tony is willing to take that chance and try to have a jury trial this time,'' Uresti said.