On October 15, 2024, Javarrea Pouncy, a former sergeant with the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office (DPSO), was sentenced to 37 months in prison for using excessive force on a pretrial detainee. Pouncy, 31, had previously pleaded guilty to one count of assaulting the detainee during a September 2019 strip search at the DeSoto Parish jail.
During his plea, Pouncy admitted that he and another DPSO deputy repeatedly punched the detainee in the head, face, and body, despite the detainee posing no threat. As a result of the assault, the detainee was hospitalized with injuries including a broken eye socket and broken nose.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division commented on the case: “The defendant pledged to protect and serve his community, but instead, he repeatedly punched a detainee without justification, leaving him bloodied and broken. 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.”
U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown for the Western District of Louisiana also emphasized the importance of such prosecutions: “Pouncy took advantage of his position, the power that it yields and the prestige of the badge in committing this criminal act. 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.”
Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division added, “Yesterday, Pouncy faced the consequences of his unnecessary and violent actions toward someone he was supposed to protect. 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 other deputy involved, DeMarkes Grant, had previously pleaded guilty to one count of obstructing justice in connection with the assault and was sentenced to 10 months in prison.
The case was investigated by the FBI New Orleans Field Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Reeg for the Western District of Louisiana and Trial Attorney Erin Monju of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.
