Former Deputy Sentenced for Excessive Force Against Inmate
- Former deputy in Central California sentenced to 7 years for abusing an inmate.
- Incident involved dragging the inmate by her hair and throwing her into another cell.
- Judge called the use of force 'callous and unreasonable.'
A former deputy of the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office has been sentenced to seven years in prison for his brutal treatment of an inmate, which a judge described as a "callous" and "unreasonable" use of force. The incident occurred on November 18, 2018, when the deputy, identified as Fischer, ordered a shirtless inmate to leave her cell. Following a dispute, Fischer resorted to physical violence, dragging the inmate by her hair and throwing her into another cell. Federal prosecutors detailed the incident, stating that Fischer forcibly pulled the inmate to the ground and dragged her several feet by her hair before flinging her into an adjacent cell. After the assault, the inmate was left huddled in a corner of her new cell, while Fischer documented the incident on a Sheriff's Office computer. The case drew significant attention, leading to an investigation by the FBI and the sheriff's office. On April 2, 2023, more than five years after the incident, Fischer pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of deprivation of rights under color of law. As part of a plea agreement with federal prosecutors, he acknowledged that his actions were both unreasonable and unnecessary. The agreement also stipulates that Fischer will not pursue any future employment in law enforcement, marking a significant consequence for his misconduct.