Los Angeles Deputy to Plead Guilty to Violating Teacher's Civil Rights in Brutal Incident

The case against Los Angeles County Sheriff Deputy, Joseph Benza III, has taken a significant turn as he agreed to plead guilty to violating the civil rights of a California teacher, Emmett Brock. The incident unfolded on February 10, 2023, and is marked by a series of disturbing events that culminated in the assault on Brock, who is transgender, by Benza.

Incident Details: A Confrontation and Assault

The plea agreement filed in federal court on Tuesday revealed that on the day of the incident, Deputy Benza was en route to a domestic violence call when he encountered Emmett Brock, who gestured at him with a middle finger. Instead of proceeding to the call, Benza abandoned his duty and decided to closely follow Brock, exceeding speeds of over 50 miles per hour for a distance of 1.8 miles. The pursuit concluded in a convenience store parking lot, where Benza, without issuing any commands, forcefully grabbed Brock and violently slammed him to the pavement.

The assault escalated as Benza proceeded to punch Brock's head and face multiple times, despite Brock's desperate pleas for help, shouting, 'You’re going to kill me!' 'I can’t breathe!' and 'Please stop!' The plea agreement emphasized that Benza willfully deprived Brock of his rights secured by the Constitution and laws of the United States, specifically the right to be free from excessive and unnecessary force by a law enforcement officer.

Civil Rights Violation: Legal Consequences

Deputy Benza, 36, is set to plead guilty to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law in a felony civil rights offense, a charge that carries a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison. U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada expressed the severity of the situation, stating, 'When an officer violates someone’s civil rights, it corrodes trust in law enforcement and undermines the effectiveness of other officers who sacrifice to protect the public.' Benza remains an employee of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, but defense lawyer Tom Yu mentioned that his client is expected to be fired.

Controversial Defense and Admission of Guilt

While Benza's defense attorney argued that the use of force was justified, he acknowledged the deputy's decision to abandon the initial domestic violence call and admitted to falsifying certain parts of the incident report. The defense attorney's stance raises questions about the integrity of the defense and the acknowledgment of wrongdoing.

Impact on the Victim

As a result of the violent encounter, Emmett Brock suffered various injuries, including a concussion, bruising, cuts, vomiting, and head pain. The physical and emotional toll on Brock has been profound, as he navigates the aftermath of a traumatic experience. Additionally, the incident resulted in significant disruptions to Brock's professional life, leading to the loss of his job as a 12th-grade English teacher at an alternative school for at-risk youth just three days after the assault.