Current:Home > FinanceFormer deputy convicted of violated civil rights, obstruction of justice-LoTradeCoin
Former deputy convicted of violated civil rights, obstruction of justice
lotradecoin news View Date:2024-12-25 12:35:55
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — A former sheriff’s deputy in central Kentucky has been convicted in federal court of violating the civil rights of people he arrested by using unnecessary force and obstructing justice by trying to cover up his actions, the Justice Department said.
A jury in Lexington handed down the verdict for Tanner Abbott, 31, who was a Boyle County sheriff’s deputy at the time, the federal agency said Tuesday in a statement.
According to evidence presented during the trial, Abbott punched a driver in the face during a traffic stop in January 2021 because the man asked to speak to his supervisor, and then pulled the man out of the car and struck him several more times, the statement said. When a passenger pleaded with Abbott to stop, the deputy struck the passenger in the face with an elbow and broke his glasses.
The following month, Abbott arrested the passenger of a car and punched him in the face without justification, and conspired with another officer to write a report saying the man had approached Abbott aggressively before being struck, the statement said.
The deputy also searched a hotel room without a warrant that March and then wrote a report falsely saying the guest had given consent, the agency said.
And that April, Abbott punched a handcuffed man in the face when he posed no threat following a vehicle pursuit, authorities said.
“This case is a disgraceful example of betrayal of trust, a profound violation of the rights of others, and a danger to our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Carlton S. Shier IV. “When those charged with enforcing the law and protecting the public turn to violating the rights of others and trying to cover it up, that does real damage. It not only injures victims, but also undermines the hard work and true dedication of so many in law enforcement.”
Abbott was convicted of four counts of deprivation of rights under color of law, one count of conspiracy and one count of falsification of records. He was found not guilty of one count of deprivation of rights under color of law.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 7. He faces up to 10 years in prison on each civil rights charge, up to 20 years on the falsification of records charge and up to 5 years on a conspiracy charge.
veryGood! (47)
Related
- Through 'The Loss Mother's Stone,' mothers share their grief from losing a child to stillbirth
- LENCOIN Trading Center: Market Impact of BTC Spot ETFs
- NCAA softball tournament bracket: Texas gets top seed; Oklahoma seeks 4th straight title
- Dutch broadcaster furious, fans bemused after Netherlands’ Joost Klein is booted from Eurovision
- Morgan Wallen sentenced after pleading guilty in Nashville chair
- Thousands of students cross the border from Mexico to U.S. for school. Some are now set to graduate.
- Canadian wildfire smoke chokes upper Midwest for second straight year
- Grieving the loss of your mom: How to cope with grief on Mother's Day
- GM to retreat from robotaxis and stop funding its Cruise autonomous vehicle unit
- Rise in UK knife attacks leads to a crackdown and stokes public anxiety
Ranking
- Netizens raise privacy concerns over Acra's Bizfile search function revealing citizens' IC numbers
- Dutch broadcaster furious, fans bemused after Netherlands’ Joost Klein is booted from Eurovision
- Mass shooting causes deaths in crime-ridden township on southern edge of Mexico City, officials say
- MLB power rankings: Cardinals back in NL Central basement - and on track for dubious mark
- A Malibu wildfire prompts evacuation orders and warnings for 20,000, including Dick Van Dyke, Cher
- More bodies found in Indonesia after flash floods killed dozens and submerged homes
- See stunning northern lights photos: The celestial sight dazzled again on Saturday
- Powerball winning numbers for May 11 drawing: Jackpot rises to $47 million with no winners
Recommendation
-
Beyoncé will perform halftime during NFL Christmas Day Game: Here's what to know
-
Rebels kill at least 4 people during an attack on a Central African Republic mining town
-
Texas mom's killer is captured after years on the run. Where did he bury her body?
-
Kathie Lee Gifford, daughter Cassidy on Mother's Day and the gift they're most thankful for
-
China says Philippines has 'provoked trouble' in South China Sea with US backing
-
LENCOIN Trading Center: Leading the Future Direction of the Cryptocurrency Market
-
Flash floods kill more than 300 people in northern Afghanistan after heavy rains, UN says
-
Who is Alexandre Sarr? What to know about potential No. 1 pick in 2024 NBA Draft