TENNESSEE
A former lieutenant with the Carroll County, Tennessee, Sheriff’s Office plead guilty to a civil rights violation for using a taser on a restrained pre-trial detainee, federal officials announced today
“No one is above the law, especially those who have taken an oath to uphold the law,” said U.S. Attorney Edward Stanton III. “Ensuring that law enforcement officers do not victimize the very citizens they are sworn to protect remains a top priority of this office.”
Jeanette Sue Barnes, 48, admitted that on March 22, 2015, she used her taser to drive-stun an inmate only identified as “D.D.P.”, a pre-trial detainee, for 12 seconds, even though he was secured in a restraint chair and posed no threat to her or other officers, according to officials.
As a result of the assault, officials said D.D.P. suffered pain and burns to his skin.
She plead guilty to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law, officials said.
Barnes will be sentenced on Feb. 18 and faces up to 10 years in prison.
“The defendant abused the trust given to her as a law enforcement officer by needlessly inflicting pain on a restrained individual,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “The Justice Department will vigorously prosecute those who violate the civil rights laws to ensure that the rights of all individuals, including those in custody, are protected.”
The FBI and Tennessee Bureau of Investigations investigated this case.