Three ex-Mount Carmel cops face federal prison time for civil rights violations
MOUNT CARMEL – Three former Mount Carmel police officer were sentenced for their roles in a conspiracy to violate civil rights of arrestees, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
Former Lt. David Donkockik, 53, of Catawissa, was sentenced to seven years in prison.
Former Patrol Officer Jonathan McHugh, 36, of Tamaqua, was sentenced to six years in prison.
Former Patrol Officer Kyle Schauer, 36, of Catawissa, was sentenced to four years in prison.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Donkockik, McHugh, and Schauer were sentenced for their participation in a conspiracy to violate the civil rights of those they arrested from 2018 to 2021. Each of the former police officers previously entered guilty pleas to the crime of conspiracy to use excessive force against those they arrested and to cover up the same.
During 22 different arrests, the defendants kicked, punched, choked, and otherwise used excessive force against those they were arresting. In those arrests, they caused bodily injuries to their victims.
McHugh, Donkochik, and Schauer also took steps to ensure that video of the arrests was not captured by police cameras, or if footage that incriminated them was captured, took steps to ensure that footage was not preserved. They falsely reported that arrestees acted in a manner requiring violence and then charged arrestees with aggravated assault, resisting arrest, and related offenses to conceal their own use of violence.
When imposing the sentence, Chief Judge Brann highlighted the violence and brutality those officers employed on many arrestees. The Judge noted the efforts the officers took to cover up their violence by charging the victims with crimes they had not committed.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carlo Marchioli and Michael Consiglio are prosecuting the case.
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