CHARLOTTE COUNTY, FLORIDA SHERIFF’S DEPUTY SENTENCED FOR VIOLATING MINOR’S CIVIL RIGHTS

The following press release was published by the US Department of Justice on March 4, 2004. It is reproduced in full below.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2004 WWW.USDOJ.GOV CRT (202) 514-2008 TDD (202) 514-1888 WASHINGTON, D.C.- The Department of Justice today announced the sentencing of former Charlotte County, Florida, Sheriff’s Deputy Wyatt Henderson on charges that he violated the civil rights of a minor. Federal District Court Judge Anne C. Conway sentenced Wyatt Henderson to seven years and three months imprisonment.

Henderson was convicted by a jury in December 2003 on charges of depriving an individual of a protected right, obstruction of justice, and lying to federal law enforcement officers. The charges arose from an incident in which Henderson struck a compliant detainee in the face, fracturing his jaw and lacerating his face. Henderson subsequently filed a false report about the incident and lied to an investigating FBI agent.

The case was prosecuted jointly by attorneys from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida and the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. 04-138

Source: US Department of Justice