Photo: Emmett Brock
A deputy sheriff in Los Angeles has pleaded guilty to assaulting a transgender man and violating his federal civil rights, reports the Advocate.
Joseph Benza III, 36, was charged last week with one felony count of deprivation of rights for an incident in February, 2023 where he followed a trans man – Emmett Brock – in his car for nearly two miles before brutally assaulting him once he parked. Benza pleaded guilty the same day, the Department of Justice has announced.
“It is deeply troubling that a member of our Department, who has since been relieved of duty, violated the trust placed in them to uphold the law by abusing their authority,” Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert G. Luna said in a statement. “These actions undermine the integrity of our Department, the trust of our community, and the safety of those we are sworn to protect.”
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