Trial begins for LA County deputy accused of beating 3 inmates

Jury selection began Monday in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom in the trial of a former Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputy accused of beating three inmates multiple times and falsifying reports.

Jermaine W. Jackson, who was a deputy at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility, faces nine counts of felony charges related to the alleged beatings of three inmates between 2009 to 2012.

Jackson, 38, who wore a dark blue suit and tie, sat silently at the defense table, sometimes writing in a yellow legal pad during jury selection.

The case, prosecuted by the L.A. County District Attoey’s Office, is a result of an inteal Sheriff’s Department investigation into deputy abuse in county jails. The Sheriff’s Department opened its own probe after department officials discovered that the FBI was looking into allegations that deputies were abusing inmates.

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The case follows last week’s conviction of former LASD Undersheriff Paul Tanaka, who a federal jury found guilty of conspiracy and obstructing the FBI’s investigation.

More than a dozen current or former deputies, in addition to Tanaka, have been convicted of federal charges in the corruption and civil rights abuses cases, according to the FBI.

Jackson is charged with three counts of assault by any means of force likely to produce great bodily injury, three counts of assault by a public officer under the color of authority and three counts of filing false reports. Jackson has pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors allege Jackson beat inmate Derek Griscavage at Twin Towers on Christmas Day in 2010 and on Oct. 25, 2012.

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On New Year’s Eve in 2009, Jackson is accused of assaulting an inmate named Cesar Campana at the Compton courthouse lockup and again on Oct. 31, 2012.

On June 29, 2011, Jackson is accused of assaulting inmate Jonathan Murray at Twin Towers and assaulting him again a year later.

Jackson was initiallycharged in 2012 with the assaults of Griscavage and Campana. The charges involving the assault against Murray were filed in 2014.

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There were two other co-defendents in the case. Jayson Ellis, 28, pleaded guilty in June to one count of assault with a deadly weapon by means likely to produce great bodily injury. He was sentenced to 60 days in jail and three years probation.

Former Deputy Karin Cring, 33, was also charged. She made an agreement with prosecutors to testify against Jackson at the trial and will plead and be sentenced at a later date.

Potential jurors were asked Monday by attoeys about police bias and whether they knew people who had a mental illness.

Jury selection is expected to continue Tuesday.