Former Gwinnett Deputy Indicted With Punching Inmate In Head

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA - A former Gwinnett County deputy was indicted this week in connection with the unnecessary assault of a female inmate and writing a false report to justify his actions.

Aaron S. Masters, 27, of Jefferson was assigned to the Rapid Response Team of the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office inside the jail at the time of the 2018 incident, the Department of Justice said.

During a use of force review by the sheriff’s office, officials found Masters’ actions were unprovoked and "outside our established policies and procedures,” the sheriff’s office said Thursday.

The incident involved an unruly inmate. While the woman was safely subdued, that person began to exhibit self-harming behavior as soon as deputies left her cell, authorities said.

Deputies re-entered her cell to prevent the inmate from harming herself. During that secondary exchange, Masters was seen on video punching the inmate three times with a closed fist in the head, according to a Department of Justice news release.

The incident was discovered during a routine review that follows each use-of-force incident.

The charge of deprivation of civil rights under color of law resulting in injury provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

The charge of falsifying a police report provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

Masters was employed by the sheriff’s office for three years and had no disciplinary history prior to this incident, the office said.

Recognizing that corrections officers have a difficult job as they maintain order and protect inmates in prisons and county jails, U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak said, “...this deputy sheriff must be held accountable for allegedly abusing his authority by committing a violent and unnecessary assault on an inmate, and then writing a false report to cover up the incident.”

The FBI is investigating the case.