Dominic Davidson, Excessive Force Against Inmate, Louisiana 2020

Ex-Rapides Parish Correctional Officer Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Inmate

A former Rapides Parish Correctional Officer pleaded guilty to a civil rights offense for assaulting an inmate at the Rapides Parish Detention Center 1 in Alexandria, Louisiana.

Dominic Davidson, 27, a former Correctional Officer with the Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office, pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of using excessive force against a pretrial detainee housed at the facility.

The incident occurred on June 14, 2018, when Davidson entered the locked holding cell of pretrial detainee K.F. and began punching K.F. repeatedly in the face and body. Prior to Davidson entering the cell, K.F. had been banging on the door in an attempt to get officers' attention.

Davidson faces a maximum statutory penalty of up to 12 months in prison and a fine of up to $100,000. He is scheduled to be sentenced on September 15, 2020.

This case was investigated by the FBI, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Mudrick of the Western District of Louisiana and Trial Attorneys Katherine DeVar and Thomas Johnson of the Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.

The Justice Department works to protect the civil rights of all citizens, including those in our custody, said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Civil Rights Division. Law enforcement, including correctional officers, are sworn to uphold and defend the laws of our nation, and when they themselves break those laws, they violate not just the rights of their victims, but also compromise the public's trust in law enforcement.

My office will hold public servants accountable when they break the law, said U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph for the Western District of Louisiana.

The exact criminal charges against Davidson are misdemeanor count of using excessive force against a pretrial detainee.

He was a Correctional Officer with the Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office in Alexandria, Louisiana.

Davidson's current status is that he pleaded guilty to the civil rights offense.

The case is a reminder that law enforcement officials are expected to uphold the law and protect the rights of citizens, and when they fail to do so, they will be held accountable.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/former-rapides-parish-correctional-officer-pleads-guilty-civil-rights-offense-assaulting