A former Arkansas deputy has been sentenced to a year in prison for a civil rights violation related to a violent 2022 arrest caught on video. U.S. District Judge Susan O. Hickey sentenced former Crawford County sheriff’s deputy Zackary King following his guilty plea to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law during the August 21, 2022, arrest of Randal Worcester outside a convenience store. King was also ordered to serve one year of supervised release.
King and another former deputy, Levi White, were charged by federal prosecutors for the arrest, which was recorded by a bystander using a cellphone in the town of Mulberry. The video, showing King and White assaulting Worcester, was widely shared online. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division condemned the officers’ actions as a violation of their duty to protect and serve.
White, who also pleaded guilty, was sentenced to over 5 years in prison and ordered to receive mental health counseling and treatment while incarcerated. A third officer in the video, Mulberry Police Officer Thell Riddle, was not charged in the federal case, but King and White were terminated by the Crawford County sheriff. Worcester, who faces charges related to the arrest, including resisting arrest and second-degree battery, is scheduled to go to trial in February.
Worcester previously filed a lawsuit against the three officers, the city of Mulberry, and Crawford County over the arrest. The case has been put on hold pending the outcome of the ongoing criminal proceedings. The incidents have sparked discussions around police conduct and accountability in law enforcement.
The sentencing of the two former deputies marks a step towards justice for the victim and a reminder of the importance of respecting civil rights and upholding the law. It underscores the need for transparency and accountability in law enforcement to ensure the protection and safety of all individuals.