Javarrea Pouncy, Excessive Force, Louisiana 2019

Shreveport, LA – A former DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office Correctional Officer has been charged with federal civil rights violations and obstruction of justice.

Javarrea Pouncy, a former DPSO correctional officer, was indicted on three counts by a federal grand jury in Shreveport, Louisiana, on September 27, 2019.

According to the indictment, Pouncy used unreasonable force against a detainee by repeatedly striking him in the head and body without legal justification while the detainee was being booked into the DeSoto Parish jail.

The indictment further alleges that the assault caused bodily injury to the detainee and that Pouncy knew the detainee had serious medical needs but willfully failed to obtain necessary medical care for him.

Pouncy is also charged with obstruction of justice for knowingly falsifying and making a false entry in a DPSO report with the intent to impede, obstruct and influence an investigation into the assault.

If convicted, Pouncy faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison each for counts one and two, and 20 years in prison for count three.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Brandon Brown for the Western District of Louisiana, and Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Williams Jr. of the FBI New Orleans Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI New Orleans Field Office is investigating the case, and 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 are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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