Daleville, Ala. (WDNews) — A former Daleville police sergeant has been sentenced to federal prison for assaulting a man in custody. Ryan Phillips, who pleaded guilty in August to violating the man’s civil rights, will serve 16 months in prison followed by nearly two years of supervised release, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Court records show the incident occurred on March 1, 2022. Phillips admitted in his plea agreement that after arguing with the detainee, he entered the man’s cell and struck him multiple times on the chest, back, and face. At the time, the man was alone in the cell and posed no threat to himself or others.
Prosecutors initially recommended a 22-month sentence, but U.S. Chief District Judge Emily Marks opted for 16 months and suggested Phillips be placed in a facility offering mental health and alcohol dependency treatment.
Phillips’ actions were deemed a serious violation of the detainee’s rights, leading to the federal charge and subsequent sentencing.
