Former Pike Co. deputy sentenced to prison for beating inmate

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A former Pike County deputy is behind bars today after receiving a nearly 9-year sentence for violating the civil rights of an inmate in his custody.

Jeremy C. Mooney, 49, was convicted by a jury in August 2023 for a brutal attack on a restrained victim at the Pike County Sheriff’s Office. The federal judge sentenced Mooney to 100 months, or just over 8 years, in prison for repeatedly pepper spraying and punching the handcuffed man.

Prosecutors highlighted the severity of the case, emphasizing that Mooney used excessive force against a defenseless person. “This wasn’t just any assault,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke. “The victim was completely restrained and unable to fight back.”

The Justice Department vowed to hold law enforcement accountable for violating the rights they are sworn to protect. U.S. Attorney Kenneth Parker called Mooney’s actions a “betrayal of the public trust” and stressed that such abuse of power won’t be tolerated.

Court documents detail a horrific incident on November 18th, 2019. Mooney first pepper sprayed the victim outside after placing him in a restraint chair, then continued the assault even after the victim fell over in pain. Back inside, Mooney repeatedly punched the victim in the head, fracturing his own hand in the process.

Another former Pike County Sheriff’s Office supervisor, William Stansberry Jr., also faced charges for failing to intervene during the attack. Stansberry pleaded guilty in July 2023 and received a six-month prison sentence, followed by three years of supervised release.