A former Louisiana sheriff’s deputy has been sentenced to over three years in prison for brutally assaulting a pretrial detainee.
Javarrea Pouncy, 31, pleaded guilty to using excessive force while conducting a strip search of a detainee in September 2019. Pouncy admitted to repeatedly punching the detainee in the head, face, and body, despite the detainee posing no threat. The assault resulted in serious injuries, including a broken eye socket and a broken nose, requiring hospitalization.
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“The defendant pledged to protect and serve his community, but instead, he repeatedly punched a detainee without justification, leaving him bloodied and broken,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “People in detention have the right to be treated humanely and not to be brutalized by excessive force. This sentence sends a clear message that we will not tolerate such abuses behind bars. The Justice Department will hold accountable officials who violate detainees’ civil rights.”
“Pouncy took advantage of his position, the power that it yields and the prestige of the badge in committing this criminal act,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown for the Western District of Louisiana. “Decency and order can co-exist with the preservation of an offender’s civil rights. Prosecutions such as these are critical to ensure that the good work of law enforcement officers is not hampered by the heinous acts of bad law enforcement officers.”
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“Yesterday, Pouncy faced the consequences of his unnecessary and violent actions toward someone he was supposed to protect,” said Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “It’s a sad day when we have to investigate someone who took an oath to uphold the law. His actions undermine the integrity of the criminal justice system, and I want the public to know we will not tolerate it. The FBI is committed to investigating criminal misconduct, no matter who the subject is or what position they hold in their community.”
The FBI and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are committed to investigating and prosecuting such cases to ensure the integrity of the criminal justice system. The other deputy involved in the incident, DeMarkes Grant, was previously sentenced to 10 months in prison for obstructing justice.
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