U.S. Attorney’s Office April
01, 2014 • District of New Mexico (505) 346-7274
ALBUQUERQUE—John Lytle, 41, a
former detective with the Belen Police Department in Belen, New Mexico, pleaded
guilty in federal court today to violating an arrestee’s civil rights by
assaulting him during the course of an investigative stop and arrest.
During his guilty plea, Lytle
admitted that on March 15, 2012, while working in his capacity as a Belen
Police Department detective, he repeatedly struck the victim, identified by the
initials R.A., who was handcuffed and compliant during the entire course of the
stop. Lytle further admitted that, at one point during the stop, he pulled the
handcuffed victim from the back of a police squad car, threw him to the ground,
and struck him again. The victim suffered injuries to his face and torso as a
result of Lytle’s assault.
Under the terms of his plea
agreement, Lytle will be sentenced to five years of probation. He also will be
precluded from working or seeking future employment as a law enforcement
officer in any capacity, and he must forfeit his law enforcement certification.
Additionally, the court may impose a fine or order Lytle to pay restitution to
the victim.
“The defendant has admitted
that he, in his capacity as a law enforcement officer, violated a person’s
constitutional rights,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jocelyn Samuels
for the Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will continue to
vigorously investigate and prosecute those who use the trust and authority of
their official position to engage in acts of criminal misconduct.”
Today’s plea resulted from the
investigative work of the Albuquerque Division of the FBI. It is being
prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico Mark T.
Baker and Trial Attorney Julia Gegenheimer of the Civil Rights Division of the
Department of Justice.