Ronald Leggitt, a former sergeant with the Hillsdale County Sheriff’s Department, has pled guilty to charges related to the assault of an inmate. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced that Leggitt admitted guilt to one count of Misconduct in Office and one count of Aggravated Assault. These charges stem from an incident in December 2021 when Leggitt assaulted a female inmate at the Hillsdale County Jail.
The assault occurred on December 16, 2021, when a woman was brought into custody and reportedly resisted officers during her arrest. While under supervision at the jail, she continued to display resistant behavior. Over approximately 80 minutes, Leggitt used aerosol subject restraint six times on the inmate's face while she was restrained in an emergency chair for five of those instances.
Nessel stated: “With this conviction, Mr. Leggitt has been stripped of his ability to serve as a police officer in Michigan, preventing him from harming others who would have been under his authority.” She further emphasized the department's commitment to holding individuals accountable for abusing their positions.
As part of his plea agreement, Leggitt relinquished his MCOLES certification required for employment as a police officer in Michigan. His sentencing is scheduled for January 29, 2025, before Judge John G. McBain Jr. at the 4th Judicial Circuit Court in Jackson County.