CRAWFORD COUNTY, ARKANSAS, Ark. — A former Crawford County deputy has changed his plea to guilty and now awaits sentencing for using excessive force during an arrest.
Zack King was set to go in front of a jury in a federal case on May 6 this year alongside co-defendant Levi White, also a former Crawford County deputy. Both originally pleaded not guilty.
King faces a maximum penalty of one year imprisonment and a $100 fine. King has also agreed to no longer accept any law enforcement position in the U.S., and pay full restitution to the victim and his family.
The deputies are accused of using excessive force while arresting a man outside of a Mulberry gas station in August 2022. After multiple delays, at the request of King, his trial was canceled.
King reportedly told the court during a hearing on April 15 that he was sorry for his conduct during the arrest.
The former deputies are charged with deprivation of rights under color of law for infringing on Worcester's constitutional right to be "free from the use of unreasonable force by a law enforcement officer," court documents say.
During a plea change hearing on April 15, King changed his plea to guilty.
The deputies were seen in a video on top of Randal Worcester at the convenience store on Aug. 21, 2022. In the video, which was posted to social media and seen by thousands across the nation, the two deputies appear to be hitting and kicking Worcester while he is on the ground.
The violent arrest video prompted several investigations. Both deputies were fired from the sheriff's office in October 2022.
U.S. Marshals took White and King into custody on January 24, 2023. Their trial date was originally in early April 2023.
An FBI search warrant affidavit alleges that just a few hours before officials seized White's department-issued iPhone he "performed a factory reset that erased all data."
The charges stem from the two deputies allegedly infringing on Worcester's civil rights, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. A federal grand jury indicted White and King, charging them with hitting Worcester "multiple times" while he was lying on the ground.
The indictment goes on to say that Worcester "suffered bodily injury" as a result of the two deputies' actions.
Both deputies were released on $5,000 bonds.
Worcester is still facing trial for the events leading up to his arrest.
5NEWS will update this article as more information about King's sentencing is made available.
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