Former DPSO sergeant’s ‘took advantage’ of power of the badge, US Attorney Brown says

DESOTO PARISH, La. ( KTAL/KMSS ) – A former sergeant with the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office was sentenced to federal prison for violating the civil rights of a jail detainee.

According to the United States Attorney’s Office, 31-year-old Javarrea Pouncy was sentenced for assaulting a person wh o was detained during a pretrial at the DeSoto Parish jail in September 2019 after pleading guilty in April. Pouncy admitted to investigators that he and another DPSO deputy conducted a strip search of a detention center inmate. During that search, deputies repeatedly punched the detainee, who did not pose a threat, in his head, face, and body.

The inmate was hospitalized and suffered a broken eye socket, nose, and other injuries as a result of the beating.

“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.”

US Attorney for Louisiana’s Western District said Pouncy took advantage of the position and power granted by his badge. He continued by saying that convictions like this and others are, “Critical to ensure that the good work of law enforcement officers is not hampered by the heinous acts of bad law enforcement officers.”

DeMarkes Grant, the other deputy involved in the beating, pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction of justice and was sentenced to ten months in prison.

Pouncy will serve 37 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release for the assault.

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