12-Month Prison Term for Officer Who Struck Homeless Man 45 Times!
A Los Angeles Veteran Affairs officer, Juan Anthony Carrillo, has been sentenced to 12 months in federal prison for violating the civil rights of a homeless man by using excessive force. This sentence represents the maximum penalty allowed for the offense under federal law.
The incident occurred on January 16, 2022, at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center. Carrillo, 45, responded to assist a fellow officer who was detaining a 34-year-old man identified in court documents as R.V. The man, who was unhoused, was reportedly walking around the medical center property holding a clear glass pipe, which officers suspected was drug paraphernalia.
Upon arriving at the scene, Carrillo began striking R.V. with his baton. Investigators later determined that he hit the victim 45 times in just 41 seconds. R.V. was unarmed and unable to move, as another officer, who outweighed him by 85 pounds, was holding him down.
Carrillo himself was 60 pounds heavier than the victim. The beating left R.V. with severe injuries, including deep cuts on his legs and a broken bone in his right foot. Throughout the assault, R.V. was screaming in pain.
Carrillo later attempted to justify his actions by filing an incident report claiming that the victim was “violently kicking his legs and refusing to show his hands.”
However, his report omitted key details, including the number of strikes he delivered during the assault. This false account was part of the evidence used to prosecute him.
Authorities, including the FBI, expressed their disapproval of Carrillo’s actions. Donald Alway, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, described the incident as disturbing and emphasized that it was not representative of the conduct of most law enforcement officers, who operate with high standards and restraint.
Carrillo pleaded guilty on July 26 to charges of using excessive force as a law enforcement officer. Initially, he was charged with more severe offenses, including deprivation of rights under color of law resulting in bodily injury and assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm. Both of these charges carried a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.
The sentencing highlights the importance of accountability in law enforcement and the consequences of violating the civil rights of individuals, regardless of their circumstances.