INDIANAPOLIS – An IMPD officer accused of violating the civil rights of a man during an arrest pleaded guilty in federal court on Monday.
Eric Huxley faces federal and state charges related to excessive use of force during the September 2021 incident on Monument Circle.
Body camera footage of the arrest shows the man arguing with an officer before he is forced to the ground. Huxley then walks over and stomps on the man’s face.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Huxley with deprivation of rights under color of law.
According to court documents filed in federal court, Huxley agreed to plead guilty to the federal charges. In exchange, prosecutors will ask for a reduced sentence, although the final decision is up to the court.
The plea agreement does not protect Huxley from state prosecution; he faces official misconduct and battery charges in Marion County.
Huxley appeared virtually for a pretrial hearing on Tuesday. He is facing official misconduct and battery charges in Marion County.
Huxley’s attorney John Kautzman said the hearing was a little premature due the guilty plea.
During the hearing, protesters were gathered across from the courthouse demanding Huxley go to jail.
“The guilty plea is not surprising. I hope the prosecutor in the state case uses that guilty plea to effectuate a conviction,” protestor Noah Leininger said. “I don’t want to see charges dropped in this case.”
A status conference is set for July 11 in hopes that the federal case is finalized by then. Kautzman said a sentencing date for the federal charges should come within the next 60 days.
