The Justice Department announced today that former Bryan County, Okla., Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Kevin Bennett Holt, 48, from Achille, Okla., was sentenced to 18 months in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, followed by 24 months of supervised release, for using a Taser to assault a detainee inside of the Bryan County Jail in Durant, Okla., in violation of the victim’s civil rights.
According to court documents, Holt admitted to intentionally using unreasonable force on a detainee when he electronically shocked the detainee by using a Taser device while the detainee was strapped into a restraint chair. The defendant also admitted that his unlawful Taser deployment injured the victim.
Holt’s actions were deemed a clear abuse of authority, and the federal government is committed to prosecuting officers who abuse their power. “Excessive force by officers sworn to respect and uphold the law undermines our criminal justice system,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division.
The case was investigated by the FBI, and the prosecution was led by Trial Attorney Nicole Lee Ndumele of the Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Dean Burris from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
Bennett Holt’s guilty plea was made on May 1, 2012, marking a significant blow to the former cop’s reputation and a victory for justice in Bryan County.
As the Justice Department continues to crack down on police corruption and excessive force, the Holt case serves as a stark reminder that those who abuse their power will be held accountable.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons will now take custody of Holt, marking the beginning of his 18-month sentence for the taser assault. The community can now breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that justice has been served in this case.
The Bryan County Sheriff’s Office has since implemented new policies and procedures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
Holt’s case is a prime example of the Justice Department’s commitment to upholding the civil rights of all individuals, particularly those in custody.
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