Second Mount Carmel officer accused of civil rights violations pleads guilty
MOUNT CARMEL – One of three Mount Carmel police officers accused of violating the civil rights of arrestees has pleaded guilty to federal charges.
Lt. David Donkochik, 53, pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiring to use excessive force, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced.
Donkochik was one of three officers indicted on charges of conspiracy to deprive rights under the color of law, the others being Officers Jonathan McHugh and Kyle Schauer, both 36.
They are accused of violating the civil rights of those they arrested from 2018 to 2021 where they allegedly kicked, punched, choked, or used excessive force in 22 different arrests.
The officers are also accused of taking steps to make sure that footage of the arrests was not captured or was not preserved, and falsely reporting that arrestees acted in a manner requiring violence, filing aggravated assault and related charges.
Schauer pleaded guilty in October.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 10 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
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