A former Elmore County deputy sheriff awaits sentencing after pleading guilty in federal court to depriving an arrestee of his civil rights under color of law.
Blake Hicks, 33, stood before federal magistrate Judge Jerusha Adams in Montgomery Tuesday and admitted he kicked and punched Tristen Quinn while he was handcuffed and on the ground in March 2022.
This video is provided by attorneys representing Tristen Quinn. They say Quinn was a victim of police brutality at the hands of officers with the Wetumpka Police Department and the Elmore County Sheriff's DepartmentÂ
Submitted / The Herald Tristen Quinn on March 5, 2022.
Adams asked Hicks a series of questions to determine if he was competent to enter a guilty plea. Hicks admitted to Adams he is being treated for mental illness.
“I have been since I got back from Afghanistan,” Hicks said.
Hicks said he was being treated at the VA and was currently taking medication for his mental illness. It was never disclosed what mental illness. Hicks said he was not being treated for anything else and had no addictions.
Hicks' attorney Richard Keith asked him a series of questions about Hicks’ role in the arrest of Quinn. Hicks admitted to breaking Quinn’s cheek bone, giving him a concussion and lacerations as he kicked and punched the handcuffed defendant.
It all stemmed from a Wetumpka Police Department traffic stop. Quinn was handcuffed and placed in the back of a Wetumpka patrol vehicle and escaped. A call for backup went to dispatch and Hicks responded. Two officers tased Quinn and video captured by security cameras at a nearby convenience store appears to show Quinn falling backwards.
The video shows an officer running and then jumping onto Quinn. Kicks and punches follow.
As part of the plea agreement Hicks agreed to surrender his APOSTC certification and never seek employment as a corrections or law enforcement officer.
The U.S. Government through Assistant United States Attorney Eric Counts for the Middle District of Alabama, agreed to not pursue additional charges from the incident and seek a minimal sentence.
Adams said the federal district judge is not bound to sentence according to a plea agreement.
Hicks could be sentenced up to 10 years in a federal prison, levied a $250,000 fine and given a three year supervised probation upon release from prison.
Adams allowed Hicks to remain released until sentencing as Hicks has stayed in treatment for a mental illness, has full time employment and a young child.
“Since his indictment he has complied with the requests of the U.S. Probation Office,” Adams said.
A presentencing report must be completed before Hicks is sentenced. No date for a sentencing hearing has been set.
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