Federal charges have been filed against two former Pike County Sheriff’s officers accused of using excessive force.
For their treatment of a suspect in Pike County Sheriff’s Office custody, Jeremy Mooney, 47, and William Stansberry Jr., 46, are charged with civil rights crimes. The sealed indictments were returned by a grand jury on Oct. 19. The documents were unsealed on Thursday.
According to the indictment, Mooney pepper-sprayed the victim repeatedly while he was restrained. In addition, Mooney is charged with punching the victim several times “without any legitimate law enforcement purpose,” resulting in injury.
During the incident, Stansberry, then a supervisor at the sheriff’s office, took no action when Mooney violently attacked the victim.
According to the grand jury indictment, Mooney was charged with two counts of deprivation of rights under the color of law, and Stansberry Jr. with one count of the same charge. If convicted, both men could spend up to ten years in prison.
