Feds Want Incarceration for Former Jail Deputy

Federal prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles filed legal papers arguing that former Santa Barbara County Custody Deputy Christopher Johnson should serve 12 months behind bars as punishment for the obstruction of justice charge for which he was convicted of last September.

Johnson was one of two jail deputies brought up on excessive force charges — along with Robert Kirsch — for taking down a handcuffed jail inmate and then beating him; neither were convicted. But Johnson was convicted for obstruction of justice for not reporting that Kirsch kicked and kneed the inmate in his written report of the incident, which took place on June 17, 2013.

Even though the U.S. Probation Office has recommended Johnson be sentenced to one year of probation, U.S. Attorney Bruce Riordan has insisted incarceration is necessary because of the gravity of the offense, as well as to send a message. “Custodial deputies, like all law enforcement officers, must report accurately on their use of force incidents or the criminal justice system will be tarnished,” wrote Michael Azat, one of Riordan’s deputy prosecutors, in court pleadings.