Former Crawford County deputy pleads guilty to use of excessive force
CRAWFORD COUNTY, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — A former Crawford County deputy changed his plea on Monday to guilty and will now await sentencing for using excessive force during an arrest in 2022, according to Charlie Robbins with the U.S. Attorney’s Office Western District of Arkansas.
Zachary King was set to start his trial on May 6 along with codefendant Levi White after he initially pleaded not guilty.
The district office says King pleaded guilty on Monday to one count of deprivation of rights under the color of law, which is punishable by up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.
Trial delayed again for River Valley man beaten by deputies in viral video
The deputies are accused of excessive force while attempting to arrest a man outside a Mulberry gas station in August 2022. A viral video posted to social media showed the deputies and a police officer beating a man while handcuffing him.
They were suspended and later fired.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging White and King with federal civil rights offenses for using excessive force on the man.
White has a pretrial hearing on April 16 at 10 a.m., according to the district’s office.
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