Today, a former deputy of the Pike County Sheriff’s Office in Ohio, Jeremy C. Mooney, aged 49, was handed a significant sentence of 100 months in prison and three years of supervised release for federal civil rights violations involving excessive force.
Mooney’s sentencing follows his conviction in August 2023 by a federal jury on two counts of violating a victim’s constitutional rights. These offenses stemmed from Mooney’s actions of pepper spraying and punching the victim in the head while the victim was in custody of the Pike County Sheriff’s Office. Crucially, the victim posed no threat to himself or others. The jury found that Mooney’s actions involved the use of a dangerous weapon and resulted in bodily injury.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division emphasized, “This defendant is being sentenced for the violent assault of an inmate who was confined to a restraint chair and unable to protect himself or escape from the abuse.” Clarke reiterated the Justice Department’s commitment to prosecuting law enforcement officers who violate civil rights.
U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio stressed the importance of law enforcement officials upholding their responsibilities, stating, “Law enforcement officials who abuse their powers like Mooney did will be held accountable.”
Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola of the FBI Cincinnati Field Office echoed these sentiments, highlighting Mooney’s violation of his oath and federal law by abusing a person in his custody.
Court documents and trial testimony revealed the egregious nature of Mooney’s actions. On Nov. 18, 2019, Mooney transported the victim to the Pike County Sheriff’s Office headquarters, where he placed the victim in a restraint chair. Despite the victim’s immobilization, Mooney repeatedly subjected him to unlawful force, including pepper spraying the victim directly in the face and subsequently punching him in the head 11 times.
Mooney’s former supervisor at the Pike County Sheriff’s Office, William Stansberry Jr., 47, was also implicated in the case. Stansberry pleaded guilty to deprivation of civil rights under color of law for failing to intervene to prevent Mooney’s conduct. He was sentenced to six months in prison on March 5.
The FBI Cincinnati Field Office conducted the investigation, with prosecution handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate for the Southern District of Ohio and Trial Attorney Cameron A. Bell of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
