Two local men charged with using excessive force as law enforcement officers

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Two men have been charged with civil rights crimes related to excessive use of force while on duty at the Pike County Sheriff’s Office.

Last week, a federal grand jury indicted Jeremy C. Mooney, 47, of Piketon and William Stansbury Jr., 46, of Chillicothe. That indictment was opened today at the defendant’s first appearance in federal court.

According to the indictment, on November 18, 2019, Mooney and Stansbury violated the victim’s constitutional rights while the victim was in custody at the Pike County Sheriff’s Office.

Both Mooney and Stansbury have been charged with crimes related to Mooney’s use of force.

According to the indictment, Mooney repeatedly used pepper spray and beat the victim, but the victim was restrained and posed no threat. The indictment alleges that Mooney’s conduct involved the use of dangerous weapons and resulted in personal injury.

Stansbury was charged with violating a victim’s constitutional rights by willfully failing to intervene to deter Mooney’s actions. The indictment states that Stansbury, then a sheriff’s office supervisor, was aware that Mooney was using unjustified force, and that he had the opportunity to intervene. claims to have not intervened.

If convicted, the two face up to 10 years in prison.

Kenneth L. Parker, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio. Kristen Clark, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, Department of Justice. A special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Cincinnati Division, he J. William Rivers announced the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter K. Glenn Applegate of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division and trial attorney Cameron A. Bell are representing the United States in this case.

The indictment simply contains allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.