A former Georgia deputy gets federal prison for beating a Black man in a jail cell
Share and Follow


SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — A former Georgia sheriff’s deputy has been sentenced to 16 months in federal prison for repeatedly punching a Black detainee whose beating by guards was recorded by a jail security camera nearly three years ago.

A U.S. District Court judge sentenced 27-year-old Ryan Biegel on Thursday. The former Camden County deputy had pleaded guilty earlier this year to violating the due process rights of Jarrett Hobbs by using unreasonable force.

Hobbs of Greensboro, North Carolina, was booked into the Camden County jail near the Georgia-Florida line for traffic violations and drug possession charges on Sept. 3, 2022.

Security video from that night showed Hobbs standing alone in his cell before five guards rushed in and surrounded him. At least three deputies were shown punching him in the head and neck before Hobbs was dragged from the cell and hurled against a wall.

Hobbs’ attorneys, Harry Daniels and Bakari Sellers, said in a statement Friday that jailers “beat him mercilessly” with false confidence they would never be prosecuted.

“Let this sentence serve as some solace to everyone who has been terrorized by violence masquerading as law and order and a warning to their brutalizers,” the lawyers’ statement said. “Your badge will not protect you any more than it protected Ryan Biegel.”

Biegel’s defense attorney, Adrienne Browning, said she had no immediate comment.

Biegel and two other deputies, all of them white, were fired and arrested in connection with the assault on Hobbs, but not until more than two months later when one of Hobbs’ attorneys obtained the video and made it public.

All three still face state charges of battery and violating their oaths of office, according to Camden County Superior Court records.

U.S. District Court records show federal charges being brought only against Biegel.

It was Hobbs who was initially charged after being attacked in his cell. Prosecutors later dismissed charges of aggravated battery, simple assault and obstruction of law enforcement officers against Hobbs, citing a lack of evidence.

Also dropped were the traffic violation and drug charges that had landed Hobbs in jail. Camden County officials paid Hobbs a cash settlement to avoid a civil lawsuit, but the amount was not disclosed.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Joe Rogan slams Trump for attack on Rob Reiner after his death

Joe Rogan Condemns Trump’s Posthumous Attack on Rob Reiner: The Controversy Explained

Joe Rogan recently criticized Donald Trump for his insensitive remarks regarding the…
Macaulay Culkin abides by a strict set of rules for fans who approach him in public

Macaulay Culkin Establishes Clear Guidelines for Fan Interactions in Public

Macaulay Culkin has established specific guidelines for fans eager to meet him…
Woke city hires MURDERER who killed girl to its police review board

Controversy Erupts as City Appoints Convicted Murderer to Police Oversight Board

The decision to reinstate a convicted murderer to a city’s police review…
The 2-hour 'Stranger Things' finale will be in theaters on New Year's. Here's how to get tickets.

Mark Your Calendars: Release Date Revealed for ‘Stranger Things’ Epic Series Finale on Netflix

The eagerly anticipated conclusion to the beloved series is swiftly approaching. Here’s…

Devastating Christmas Storm Causes Mudslide to Ravage Southern California Home

The holiday season took a disastrous turn for one homeowner when a…
Chicago shooting: St. Sabina Church suspends Sunday basketball games after nearby shooting leaves 3 injured

St. Sabina Church Halts Sunday Hoops: Unpacking the Impact of a Nearby Chicago Shooting on Community Safety

In Chicago, a significant change is taking place at Saint Sabina Church…
Inside China's 'fat prisons' - where the obese are made to lose weight

Inside China’s Controversial Weight-Loss Camps: The Reality of ‘Fat Prisons’ and Their Impact on Obesity

In China, individuals struggling with obesity are turning to “fat prisons”—exclusive camps…
24-year-old man charged with double murder in shooting of Brunwick teens: Police

Brunswick Officer Arrested in Domestic Dispute: What This Means for the Community and Police Department

Brunswick Police Officer Andrea Williams, aged 41, is facing charges of criminal…