Former DeSoto corrections officer charged in 2019 excessive force incident

DeSOTO PARISH, La. (KSLA) - A federal grand jury in Shreveport has indicted a former DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office corrections officer on three counts involving federal civil rights violations and use of force.

Officer Javarrea Pouncy is accused of using unreasonable force against someone who was being detained by repeatedly hitting him in the head and body. The indictment goes on to say the attack caused bodily injury to the person who was being booked. The indictment also claims Pouncy knew the person being detained had serious medical needs and purposefully failed to provide necessary medical care for him.

PREVIOUS REPORTING: FORMER DESOTO PARISH DEPUTY JAILER UNDER INVESTIGATION BY STATE POLICE FOLLOWING KSLA INVESTIGATION

This all reportedly happened back on Sept. 27, 2019.

Furthermore, Pouncy is charged with obstruction of justice for allegedly falsifying and making a fake entry in a sheriff’s office report in order to hinder an investigation into the incident.

INDICTMENT DETAILS

• COUNT 1 - Unreasonable use of force
• COUNT 2 - Failure to obtain medical care
• COUNT 3 - Filing a false report

If he’s convicted, Pouncy faces a maximum jail time of 10 years on counts one and two, and 20 years for the third count.

Thursday evening, the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office sent a statement regarding Pouncy. The statement reads:

“Four years ago in 2019, it was brought to our attention that an incident had taken place inside our facility involving a former DeSoto Parish Sheriff Corrections Deputy and a person in custody of Louisiana State Police. The person in custody was injured during the incident.

This incident was investigated by the Louisiana State Police and more recently by the United States Attorney’s Office. The United States Attorney’s Office presented the case to a federal grand jury for civil rights violations. Yesterday, the grand jury returned an indictment for the federal charge. Sheriff Richardson and his staff are grateful for the professionalism of the US Attorney’s Office in their handling of this matter, and any further information will be released by their office.”

In 2021, Pouncy was placed on administrative leave from the Coushatta Police Department after being accused of illegally hunting deer at night in Red River Parish.

CRIME IN THE ARKLATEX

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