Los Angeles Deputy Sentenced ⁣to Prison in Excessive Force Case

Updated June 02, 2025

A⁢ Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy, Trevor Kirk, received a⁣ four-month prison⁢ sentence⁤ Monday for using excessive force against a woman ‌in ‌2023.The sentencing, handed ⁤down by U.S. District⁤ Judge‌ Stephen V. Wilson,follows ‍Kirk’s conviction in February for⁢ deprivation of rights under⁢ color of law.

The case,‌ centered on an incident outside a ⁣Lancaster supermarket,⁢ involved Kirk pepper-spraying⁤ a woman. ‌While the jury found Kirk ‌guilty, the government’s⁢ subsequent request⁤ to⁢ dismiss the ⁣felony charge sparked controversy.

Judge Wilson ⁢acknowledged the difficulties faced by law‍ enforcement officers but emphasized ‍their responsibility to act appropriately. Kirk, present at the hearing, declined to speak. His attorney, Tom Yu, indicated plans to appeal the denial of an acquittal ⁤motion.

The case became ⁤controversial ⁣when⁢ the federal government offered ⁤Kirk a misdemeanor plea deal after the jury’s verdict. This move reportedly led to resignations among federal prosecutors and raised ⁣questions‍ about the Justice Department’s handling of cases involving law⁤ enforcement. The proposed plea agreement surfaced around the ⁣same time as an executive order from then-President Trump⁣ regarding law enforcement.

U.S. attorney Bill Essayli, appointed in April, was present in court. Essayli, a Trump ⁤ally, ‌oversaw the unraveling of the felony verdict. ⁣He declined to comment after ⁣the hearing.

The incident leading to the charges‌ occured in June 2023. Kirk,⁤ responding to a robbery report, threw⁤ a woman⁤ to the ground and pepper-sprayed her outside ⁤a WinCo ‌in Lancaster. Court records indicate ⁤the woman matched‍ a suspect description but was unarmed ​and not committing a crime.

Assistant​ U.S.Attorney⁢ Brian⁤ R. Faerstein argued during the trial that Kirk used needless excessive‌ force against ​Jacy Houseton. Kirk’s defence​ countered ⁤that he ‌acted ​according to his training when dealing with a ⁢”resistant suspect.”

After Essayli’s appointment as U.S. attorney, he requested a review of the case by the Riverside County district attorney’s office. District Attorney Mike Hestrin confirmed his office conducted an independent⁣ review.Carley Palmer,a former ‍federal prosecutor,called ‍the​ involvement of an outside agency unusual,suggesting it indicated ‌a⁤ lack of internal support for Essayli’s desired outcome.

On May 1,the government filed a post-trial ‌plea agreement for Kirk to plead guilty to ⁤a misdemeanor. The original⁢ prosecutors then withdrew from‍ the case. Judge Wilson rejected the plea agreement but granted the motion to reduce the charges.

During Monday’s sentencing, Assistant U.S.Attorney Robert J. Keenan stated the government believed a prison sentence was “unnecessary.” Judge Wilson, however, found Kirk’s actions “inexplicable” ⁣and deserving of ‌punishment. Kirk ‌is scheduled to surrender on ‍Aug. ‌28.

Former⁢ Sheriff Alex⁣ Villanueva, a ​vocal supporter of Kirk, attended the sentencing hearing.

Caree Harper,​ an attorney representing Houseton, filed a ​writ seeking a stay of the proceedings, but the hearing proceeded.

What’s next

Kirk is expected to report to‌ prison on August 28.The⁣ appeal ‌process regarding the denial of the⁣ motion‍ for acquittal is ⁢also⁢ anticipated.