From The Tribune staff reports
WASHINGTON – A federal grand jury in Montgomery unsealed an indictment charging a former Elmore County Sheriff’s Deputy with depriving an arrestee of his civil rights under color of law on Friday, Nov. 3.
If convicted, Hicks faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Ross for the Middle District of Alabama and Special Agent in Charge Paul W. Brown of the FBI Mobile Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Mobile Field Office investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Counts for the Middle District of Alabama and Trial Attorney Laura-Kate Bernstein and Special Litigation Counsel Michael J. Songer of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.