Former Crawford County deputy pleads guilty to use of excessive force

Kyler Swaim
·2 min read
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FORT SMITH, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — A former Crawford County deputy changed his plea during a hearing on Friday to guilty and will now await sentencing for using excessive force during an arrest in 2022.

Levi White pleaded guilty to deprivation of rights under color of law causing bodily injury and has chosen to be sentenced by a magistrate judge.

His sentence will be no more than 10 years in prison, no more than $250,000 in fines, and no more than 3 years probation.

White along with codefendant Zachary King were accused of allegedly using excessive force while arresting a man in Mulberry in 2022.

The deputies and a Mulberry police officer were seen in a viral video posted to social media beating a man while handcuffing him.

Former Crawford County deputy pleads guilty to use of excessive force

The deputies were suspended and later fired.

“The videos from this incident are a shocking display of the violent deprivation of civil rights committed by these officers,” U.S. Attorney Clay Fowlkes for the Western District of Arkansas said in a news release. “No person in police custody should ever feel threatened or should ever experience violence at the hands of those who are sworn to protect the public. We will continue to vigorously pursue justice in cases involving the violation of civil rights in the Western District of Arkansas.”

A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging White and King with federal civil rights offenses for using excessive force on the man.

After today’s hearing, White was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals until sentencing which could take up to 4 months.

White’s lawyer tried to argue against incarceration but was denied by the judge. However, the judge said they could appeal his decision.

King pleaded guilty on Monday to one count of deprivation of rights under the color of law. He could face up to one year in prison, and a $100,000 fine.

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