HONOLULU – In a stunning turn of events, former Maui Police Department Officer Carlos Frate has pleaded guilty to using unreasonable force against an arrestee. The 40-year-old officer admitted to repeatedly tasering the arrestee, despite the fact that the individual was not resisting or posing any threat.
According to the plea agreement, on Jan. 6, 2024, Frate continued to tase the arrestee even after receiving pleas to stop from the individual. Frate acknowledged that he knew his actions were unjustified, yet he persisted.
“Officers who abuse their position of authority to inflict excessive force must be held accountable,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. The division is committed to working with law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute police misconduct.”
In a statement, Acting U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson for the District of Hawaii emphasized the importance of upholding constitutional rights. “In those rare instances where an officer abuses the public trust by using excessive force, that officer will be held accountable and prosecuted,” he said.
Special Agent in Charge David Porter of the FBI Honolulu Field Office highlighted the broader implications of such misconduct on public trust. “When they abuse it, they’re not just depriving victims of their civil rights, but they are also degrading the public’s trust in our criminal justice system,” he said.
Frate faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison. His final sentence will be determined at a hearing scheduled for Jan. 6, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Micah W. J. Smith. The FBI is investigating the case based on a referral from the Maui Police Department, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Albanese and Trial Attorney Julia White handling the prosecution.
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Key Facts
- State: Hawaii
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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