A shackled detainee, a courthouse holding cell, and a shove that broke a man’s spine have now landed former San Diego County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeremiah Manuyag Flores in federal prison. Today, a federal judge sentenced Flores to 57 months behind bars for using excessive force on a restrained detainee at the San Diego Central Courthouse and then filing false reports to cover up what happened.
Federal conviction and charges
A federal jury found Flores guilty in December 2025 of depriving a pretrial detainee of his civil rights and falsifying records, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office. Prosecutors charged him with deprivation of rights under color of law and with falsifying records, saying the evidence showed he used force on the detainee and then misreported the incident in official paperwork.
How prosecutors say the assault unfolded
Prosecutors and the county review board say the confrontation happened while 57-year-old detainee J.P. was being escorted in restraints. According to their account, Flores shoved J.P. from behind while the man’s hands and legs were restrained, sending him into a cell wall. J.P. suffered a spinal fracture that required surgery and months of hospitalization.
The San Diego County Civilian Law Enforcement Review Board’s final findings document details what it describes as inconsistencies between CCTV footage and deputies’ reports, and concludes that deputies failed to provide immediate medical aid. The report also notes that body-worn cameras were not activated during the escort and that initial reports contradicted later accounts, details that prosecutors said supported their allegations of a cover-up.
Sentence and prosecution remarks
Today, a judge imposed the 57-month federal sentence and ordered Flores to report to custody by August 18, according to 10News. Prosecutors told the court that Flores betrayed the trust that comes with a badge, and the District Attorney’s Office said he will not be able to serve as a law enforcement officer at any level in the future.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Askins told the court that prosecutors viewed the power imbalance between an armed deputy and a shackled detainee as a key aggravating factor when they asked for a prison term.
Oversight board findings and department response
In a May report, the Civilian Law Enforcement Review Board sustained multiple allegations against Flores, including serious misconduct, dishonesty and failures to follow use-of-force and reporting policies, after reviewing video and witness statements. Following those findings, the Sheriff’s Department referred the case to state and federal prosecutors, and the oversight board recommended policy and training changes to address weaknesses exposed by the investigation.
Legal note
Flores was convicted on federal counts that carry maximum statutory penalties of up to 10 years for deprivation of rights and up to 20 years for falsifying records, although the court imposed a lesser term in this case, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Seth Askins and Michael Deshong and investigated by the FBI alongside the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.
