Crawford County deputy sentenced to prison, accused of beating man outside gas station (2024)

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Witness video Arrest incident

HE'S LIVE IN FORT SMITH WITH THE LATEST, INCLUDING WHERE THE FORMER DEPUTY IS TONIGHT. TODAY IN COURT, LEVI WHITE PLEADED GUILTY TO A FELONY CHARGE AND ALL OF THE ACCUSATIONS THAT WERE MADE AGAINST HIM IN THE FEDERAL INDICTMENT. TONIGHT HE'S IN THE CUSTODY U.S. MARSHALS AND IS BEING HELD IN THE WASHINGTON COUNTY DETENTION CENTER. THAT'S LEVI WHITE WITH HIS WIFE AND ATTORNEY ENTERING THE FEDERAL COURTHOUSE IN FORT SMITH FRIDAY MORNING. BY THE AFTERNOON, THE FORMER CRAWFORD COUNTY DEPUTY WAS LED OUT OF THE COURTHOUSE IN HANDCUFFS AND SHACKLES AFTER PLEADING GUILTY TO ONE COUNT OF FELONY DEPRIVATION OF RIGHTS UNDER COLOR OF LAW, CAUSING BODILY INJURY. IN AUGUST 2022, VIDEO FROM A WITNESS SHOWS WHITE, ON THE LEFT, HITTING RANDAL WORCESTER IN THE HEAD REPEATEDLY OUTSIDE A MULBERRY GAS STATION. FORMER DEPUTY ZACKARY KING IS SEEN, ON THE RIGHT, KNEEING HIM IN THE LEGS. A MULBERRY OFFICER WHO WAS NOT CHARGED WAS ALSO HOLDING WORCESTER DOWN. WORCESTER WAS ACCUSED OF THREATENING A GAS STATION CLERK IN ALMA, BEFORE HE WAS ARRESTED IN MULBERRY. (NATS...BRETT SAYS HOW ARE YOU DOING - WORCESTER SAYS -I'M DOING OK) WORCESTER IS FACING CRIMINAL CHARGES IN CRAWFORD COUNTY, INCLUDING FELONY TERRORISTIC THREATENING AND ASSAULT AND BATTERY INVOLVING A POLICE OFFICER, FOR INITIALLY TACKLING DEPUTY WHITE. ON MONDAY, ZACKARY KING PLEADED GUILTY TO A MISDEMEANOR CHARGE. HE'S FACING UP TO ONE YEAR IN FEDERAL PRISON AND A $100,000 FINE. <> ("I'd just like to say if Mr. Worcester was here I would just like to apologize to him directly and that's it.") NOW, FORMER DEPUTY LEVI WHITE IS FACING UP TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON AND UP TO A $250,000 FINE AFTER PLEADING GUILTY TO THE FELONY CHARGE AGAINST HIM. AS THE FACTS OF THE CASE WERE READ BEFORE U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE MARK FORD, ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEYS SAID WHITE PUNCHED WORCESTER AT LEAST NINE TIMES IN THE HEAD AND THEN SLAMMED HIS HEAD ON THE GROUND. HIS DEFENSE ATTORNEY ARGUED THAT WHITE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO REMAIN FREE UNTIL HIS SENTENCING HEARING, SAYING THAT THE FORMER DEPUTY WAS UNDER THE CARE OF DOCTORS AT THE áV-Aá HOSPITAL FOR CHRONIC MIGRAINE HEADACHES THAT HE SUFFERS FROM DAILY AND THAT WHITE'S ACTIONS DID NOT MEET ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS TO BE CLASSIFIED AS A VIOLENT CRIME. BUT THE JUDGE DISAGREED AND ORDERED WHITE INTO U.S. MARSHALS CUSTODY UNTIL HE'S FORMALLY SENTENCED. SENTENCING HEARINGS FOR BOTH FORMER DEPUTIES ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE PLACE IN TWO TO FOUR MONTHS FROM NOW. WE ALSO GOT SOME ADDITIONAL CLARIFICATION FROM THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. A SPOKESPERSON SAYS THEY ARE SEEKING PRISON TIME FOR BOTH FORMER DEPUTIES, BUT THE AMOUNT OF TIME T

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Crawford County deputy sentenced to prison, accused of beating man outside gas station

A former Crawford County deputy was sentenced to more than five years in prison in a case where he was accused of hitting a man in the head repeatedly outside a gas station in Aug. 2022.Levi White pleaded guilty to deprivation of rights under color of law in April 2024.A judge sentenced him to five years and three months in federal prison. He was ordered to undergo mental health treatment during his time in prison and to have two years of probation once he leaves.The other deputy in the case, Zackary King, has sentencing scheduled for Thursday. He also pleaded guilty to deprivation of rights under color of law.King made a plea deal with prosecutors. He faces up to one year in prison, a year of supervised release, and could pay up to $100,000 in fines. As part of his plea, King cannot serve in law enforcement again.Each deputy was fired from the Crawford County Sheriff's Department following the 2022 incident.Mulberry police officer Thell Riddle was also under investigation for his involvement in the arrest. He was originally placed on administrative leave, but was among the employees given a certificate of appreciation by the mayor in Dec. 2022 and was reinstated to his position in February 2023. Witness videoIn August 2022, a witness recorded video of Randal Worcester being arrested in Mulberry.The video showed deputies White and King hitting and kicking Worcester repeatedly. Mulberry police Officer Thell Riddle was seen holding Worcester down.Additional video captured by surveillance cameras showed other angles of the incident. Arrest incidentThe incident started at a gas station in Alma.Crawford County Sheriff Jimmy Damante said a man named Randall Worcester threatened a clerk, who called the police. Police issued a "be on the lookout." The man left the gas station and rode his bike to the Kountry Xpress, where a deputy spotted him, Damante said.Damante said, at first, the suspect was cooperative. Then, Damante said, he turned violent and tried to attack the officers. That's when they pinned him down and where the video picks up.Damante told 40/29 News one of the deputies sustained minor head injuries during the incident.

VAN BUREN, Ark. —

A former Crawford County deputy was sentenced to more than five years in prison in a case where he was accused of hitting a man in the head repeatedly outside a gas station in Aug. 2022.

Levi White pleaded guilty to deprivation of rights under color of law in April 2024.

A judge sentenced him to five years and three months in federal prison. He was ordered to undergo mental health treatment during his time in prison and to have two years of probation once he leaves.

The other deputy in the case, Zackary King, has sentencing scheduled for Thursday. He also pleaded guilty to deprivation of rights under color of law.

King made a plea deal with prosecutors. He faces up to one year in prison, a year of supervised release, and could pay up to $100,000 in fines. As part of his plea, King cannot serve in law enforcement again.

Each deputy was fired from the Crawford County Sheriff's Department following the 2022 incident.

Mulberry police officer Thell Riddle was also under investigation for his involvement in the arrest. He was originally placed on administrative leave, but was among the employees given a certificate of appreciation by the mayor in Dec. 2022 and was reinstated to his position in February 2023.

Witness video

In August 2022, a witness recorded video of Randal Worcester being arrested in Mulberry.

The video showed deputies White and King hitting and kicking Worcester repeatedly. Mulberry police Officer Thell Riddle was seen holding Worcester down.

Additional video captured by surveillance cameras showed other angles of the incident.

Arrest incident

The incident started at a gas station in Alma.

Crawford County Sheriff Jimmy Damante said a man named Randall Worcester threatened a clerk, who called the police. Police issued a "be on the lookout." The man left the gas station and rode his bike to the Kountry Xpress, where a deputy spotted him, Damante said.

Damante said, at first, the suspect was cooperative. Then, Damante said, he turned violent and tried to attack the officers. That's when they pinned him down and where the video picks up.

Damante told 40/29 News one of the deputies sustained minor head injuries during the incident.

Crawford County deputy sentenced to prison, accused of beating man outside gas station (2024)
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