LEXINGTON, Ky.– 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 has handed down the verdict against 31-year-old Tanner Abbott, who was a Boyle County sheriff’s deputy at the time, the federal agency said in a statement Tuesday.
According to evidence presented at trial, during a traffic stop in January 2021, Abbott punched a driver in the face because the man asked to speak to his supervisor, then pulled the man out of the car and punched him several more times, according to the explanation. said. When a passenger begged Abbott to stop, the deputy elbowed the passenger in the face 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 aggressively approached Abbott before being punched, the statement said .
The deputy also searched a hotel room without a warrant in March and then wrote a report falsely saying the guest had given consent, the agency said.
And in April, Abbott punched a handcuffed man in the face when he posed no threat after a vehicle chase, authorities said.
“This case is an egregious example of a breach 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 covering it up, it causes real harm. It not only injures victims, but 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 documents. He was found not guilty of one charge of deprivation of rights under color of law.
He will 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 documents charge and up to five years on the conspiracy charge.