A deputy from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Joseph Benza III, has agreed to plead guilty to a federal civil rights violation. The Justice Department announced that Benza used excessive force against a transgender man in retaliation for the victim exercising his First Amendment rights.
Benza, 36, from Corona, was charged with one felony count of deprivation of rights under color of law. He has agreed to plead guilty to this offense, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The incident occurred on February 10, 2023, when Benza was assigned to the Norwalk Station.
The victim, identified as "E.B." in court documents, suffered a concussion and other injuries during the assault. United States Attorney Martin Estrada stated that such violations undermine trust in law enforcement and are an affront to justice. Akil Davis from the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office emphasized the importance of protecting civil rights and prosecuting abuses of authority.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert G. Luna expressed concern over the breach of trust by a department member who has since been relieved of duty. According to Benza's plea agreement, he responded to a domestic violence call but pursued E.B.'s vehicle after being "flipped off," leading to the assault.
Benza admitted preparing a false incident report and engaging in obstructionist conduct by discussing deleting text messages about the incident and making false statements during investigations. The FBI is continuing its investigation with assistance from LASD.
Assistant United States Attorneys Susan S. Har and J. Jamari Buxton are handling the prosecution.