Former sheriff's deputy sentenced to 29 months in prison for beating restrained inmate

After pleading guilty in May, former Elmore County Sheriff's Deputy Blake Hicks was sentenced Monday to 29 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release.

In March 2022, Hicks repeatedly punched Tristen Quinn (“TQ” in court documents) after Quinn was subpoenaed and while he was handcuffed. According to court filings, Quinn suffered “a broken cheekbone, concussion and lacerations” as a result of Hicks' assault.

Quinn was initially arrested by the Wetumpka Police Department due to a faulty tail light, but attempted to escape from custody. Quinn was convicted of evading arrest in November.

According to court documents obtained by the Wetumpka Herald, a Wetumpka police officer said Quinn's injuries were the result of falling on her face after being tased. Additionally, Wetumpka police officers said their body cameras were not working during the encounter.

However, Quinn said Wetumpka Officer David Fletcher was “confident the body camera footage would be deleted before the night was over.”

Video of the incident recorded by a nearby security camera was posted online by the Wetumpka Herald. The video shows Quinn being punched and kicked multiple times by a law enforcement officer later identified as Blake Hicks.

An internal investigation by the Wetumpka Police Department found its officers “cleared of any wrongdoing.” However, the Elmore County Sheriff's Office placed Hicks on unpaid leave and he subsequently resigned.

Hicks was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 31, 2023.

He was accused, “while acting under cover of law, of having voluntarily [depriving] TQ, a person known to the Grand Jury, of the right…to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures, which includes the right to be free from the use of unreasonable force.

On May 5, Hicks pleaded guilty to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years. As a condition of the guilty plea, Hicks had to admit to intentionally punching and kicking Quinn while he was being restrained and after being subpoenaed.

Thanks to his choice to plead guilty, the prosecution agreed to recommend “a sentence at the low end of the advisory guideline range,” which likely resulted in Hicks being sentenced to just 29 months.

Kristen Clarke, assistant attorney general for the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, said Hicks ignored his “duty to respect the rights of those in his custody and ensure their safety.”

“The Department of Justice remains firmly committed to holding accountable law enforcement officials who abuse their powers and use excessive force against people in custody,” she continued.

Jonathan Ross, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama, said “Hicks failed to fulfill his duty to protect and serve.” Ross also said that “failing to hold Hicks accountable would discredit the noble service of other officers and weaken the public's trust in law enforcement.” »