Former DPSO deputy sentenced to prison for assaulting detainee | News

SHREVEPORT, La. – A former DeSoto Parish sheriff’s deputy was sentenced yesterday to three years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for assaulting a pretrial detainee.

Javarrea Pouncy, 31, a former sergeant, previously pleaded guilty to using excessive force against the detainee. During his plea, Pouncy admitted that in September 2019, he and another DPSO deputy Demarkes Grant, conducted a search of an inmate at the DeSoto Parish Detention Center during the booking process.

Pouncy admitted to punching the inmate repeatedly in the head, face and body, even though he posed no threat to either officer. The detainee was admitted to hospital and suffered, among other things, a broken eye socket and a broken nose.

“The defendant promised to protect and serve his community, but instead he repeatedly struck an inmate 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 be abused by excessive force. This sentence sends a clear message that we will not tolerate such abuses behind bars. The Department of Justice will hold accountable officials who violate the civil rights of inmates.”

“Pouncy abused his position, the power it entailed, 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 coexist with preserving an offender’s civil rights. Prosecutions like these are critical to ensuring that the good work of law enforcement is not hampered by the heinous actions of bad law enforcement.”

“Yesterday, Pouncy faced the consequences of his unnecessary and violent actions against someone he was charged with protecting,” said Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “It is 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 that we will not tolerate this. The FBI is committed to investigating criminal misconduct, regardless of who the subject is or what position they hold in their community.”

Grant previously pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction of justice in connection with the attack. He was sentenced to 10 months in prison.