Former DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office deputy convicted of excessive use of force

SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) – A former sergeant with the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office has been convicted of using excessive force against someone in custody.

On Tuesday, October 16, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that 31-year-old Javarrea Pouncy has been sentenced to just over three years in prison (37 months), plus three years of supervised release, for assault on a pretrial detainee.

Pouncy previously pleaded guilty to using excessive force. When he pleaded guilty, the DOJ says Pouncy admitted that he and another deputy conducted a strip search on a man held at the DeSoto Parish Jail in September 2019. Pouncy also reportedly admitted that the officers struck the man in the head, face and body during the search, even though the man posed no threat to either of them. As a result of the assault, the man had to be hospitalized; he suffered a broken nose, a fractured eye socket and other injuries, the DOJ says.

PREVIOUS STORY: Former DeSoto corrections officer charged in 2019 excessive force incident

“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.”

PREVIOUS REPORT: DeSoto deputy under investigation for alleged assault is back on patrol in a neighboring parish