Choctaw County, Mississippi, Sheriff’s Deputy Indicted for Civil Rights Offenses and Obstruction of Justice

WASHINGTON— A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Choctaw County, Miss., Sheriff’s Deputy Billy C. Scott Jr. with civil rights violations and obstructing justice.

According to the indictment, on April 1, 2010, Scott ordered his police dog to attack a Mathiston, Miss., man without any legitimate law enforcement purpose, causing the victim to suffer bodily injury. Additionally, the indictment charges Scott with failing to keep the victim from harm and falsifying a report in order to cover up his misconduct.

If convicted, Scott faces a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison for the civil rights offenses, and 20 years in prison for the false statements offense.

The case is being investigated by the Oxford, Miss., Field Office of the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi.

The charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.