LAFAYETTE, La. (KFY) – David Prejean, a former sergeant in the K-9 Unit of the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office, pleaded guilty today to assaulting a pre-trial detainee.

 Prejean admitted to hitting and commanding his K-9 to attack the detainee. He entered his plea in court, reported today by Assistant Attorney General John Gore of the Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook for the Western District of Louisiana.
According to the charges and other information presented in court, Prejean was a K-9 Sergeant on the IMPACT Unit, a specialized unit at IPSO.

On Dec. 6, 2012, Prejean was called to the Iberia Parish Jail “to assist with a shakedown”.

During the course of the shakedown, an inmate “turned to look at Prejean after being told not to”, at which point Prejean threw the inmate to the ground and then commanded his dog to bite him.

Prejean also struck the inmate several times.

“Despite the fact that the inmate had complied with Prejean’s commands and did not pose a threat to anyone in the jail, Prejean allowed the dog to bite him  for several seconds before pulling the animal off,” the U.S. Attorney General’s Office said today.

Prejean also wrote a false report designed to cover up his unjustified use of force, authorities said.

“Every person in the United States, including those who are incarcerated, is protected by the U.S. Constitution,” said Gore. “When the officers we expect to uphold the rights enshrined in the Constitution willfully violate them, the Justice Department will aggressively prosecute those officers and uphold the rule of law.”
David Prejean, 38, of Lafayette, Louisiana, will be sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Dee D. Drell, on May 18 in Alexandria.