LOS ANGELES
A former police officer with the Veterans Affairs Police Department (VAPD) was sentenced last week to 12 months in federal prison for violating a victim’s civil rights by using a department-issued baton, officials stated.
He illegally struck the victim approximately 45 times in 41 seconds at the
U.S. District Judge Wesley L. Hsu sentenced Juan Anthony Carrillo, a 46-year-old resident of Alhambra.
At today’s hearing, Judge Hsu said, “Officers owe a special duty and have a special obligation to keep the trust of the citizens they police.”
Carrillo pleaded guilty on July 26 to one misdemeanor count of deprivation of rights under color of law and, specifically, for using excessive force as a law enforcement officer.
The 12-month prison sentence is the maximum sentence for this offense.
A VAPD officer detained a 34-year-old victim at the Medical Center grounds at around 4 a.m. on January 16, 2022, who is known as “R.V.” in court documents.
Officer Carrillo arrived to assist and struck R.V. with a department-issued baton up to 45 times within 41 seconds as R.V. screamed in pain. Most, if not all, of the strikes occurred while the other officer, who was unarmed, pinned R.V. down.
Carrillo weighed about 60 pounds more than R.V. the second officer was 8 inches taller and roughly 85 pounds heavier.
The assault left R.V. with multiple injuries, including cuts on both legs and a broken bone in his right foot.
The FBI, the VA’s Office of Inspector General, and the VA’s Office of Security and Law Enforcement are investigating this matter.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Susan S. Har and Michael J. Morse of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section prosecuted this case.