A former Elmore County sheriff’s deputy has pleaded guilty to federal charges he violated the civil rights of a man during his arrest in Wetumpka last year.

Blake Hicks, 33, entered his guilty plea Tuesday to depriving an arrestee of his civil rights under color of law, the U.S. Justice Department announced Wednesday.

Hicks was initially indicted in November.

According to documents and statements made in court, Hicks willfully used unreasonable force against an arrestee, identified only in court documents “T.Q.”

The Wetumpka Herald in 2022 attended a press conference with “T.Q.” and his attorneys and identified him as then-26-year-old Tristan Quinn. His attorneys released video footage of the incident, as well as a hospital photo showing him with a bruised and bloodied left eye.

The indictment against Hicks alleged the deputy punched and kicked Quinn in the head while he was handcuffed and lying on the ground.

Quinn suffered a broken cheekbone, concussion, and lacerations from Hicks’ assault.

Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin said he asked the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency to investigate the police brutality claims against his deputy and said ALEA later brought in the FBI.

Hicks was immediately placed on administrative leave with pay and resigned from the force one year later, which was in early 2023.

“Communities entrust law enforcement officers with upholding the rule of law,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “By physically assaulting a defenseless member of the community, Hicks violated both the victim’s fundamental constitutional rights and the community’s trust.”

The FBI Mobile Field Office investigated the case.

Trial Attorney Laura-Kate Bernstein and Special Litigation Counsel Michael J. Songer of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Counts for the Middle District of Alabama are prosecuting.

A sentencing hearing has been set for June 24. Hicks faces a maximum of 10 years in prison.

“”Maintaining law and order in a civil society requires trust in law enforcement,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Ross for the Middle District of Alabama. “Breaching that trust has consequences. Civil rights violations, such as this one, makes the job of every law enforcement officer in America more challenging, and more dangerous.”