KENTUCKY
A former Providence Kentucky police officer was charged last week with civil rights violations and obstruction of justice for beating a man who he believed filed a complaint against him, according to officials.
A federal grand jury indicted William Dukes Jr., of Greenville, Kentucky, with two counts of violating the civil rights of a man identified by officials as “J.L.” He was also charged with one count of obstructing justice by filing a false report, according to authorities.
The indictment alleges that Dukes arrested J.L., a Webster County resident, on May 26, 2016, without probable cause to believe that J.L. had committed a crime.
Dukes made this unlawful arrest to retaliate against J.L. for seeking to file a complaint against Dukes through state law enforcement agencies.
Last year, according to published reports, residents made a series of allegations that claimed Dukes racially profiled citizens. He was suspended in June of 2016, pending a federal investigation.
The indictment alleges that the offense resulted in bodily injury to J.L. and that it involved the use of a dangerous weapon. A third count charges Dukes with filing a false report with the intent to obstruct any investigation into the false arrest incident.
If convicted, Dukes is facing up to 40 years in prison.
Dukes is presumed innocent unless found guilty.
*This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Owensboro Division, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Hancock of the Western District of Kentucky, and Trial Attorney Roy Conn III of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.