Johnny Acosta, a former Desert Hot Springs police officer, was sentenced to 12 months of probation and 100 hours of community service after pleading guilty to misdemeanor charges stemming from the 2024 arrests of two teenage boys. The plea deal reduced the charges against him from felonies to misdemeanors. Acosta had been fired after the department investigated allegations that he used excessive force.
KESQ reported that Judge Susanne Cho imposed the sentence at the Larson Justice Center in Indio. Acosta pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of gun assault, filing a false report and assault by a peace officer. He must complete the community service through an area nonprofit organization. The Riverside County Department of Probation will determine any potential victim compensation, according to KESQ.
The charges arose from a call shortly before 2 a.m. on Nov. 8, 2024, to investigate a possible break-in at the high school on Pierson Boulevard. Prosecutors said officers encountered four male suspects fleeing the school. According to KESQ, investigators alleged Acosta pursued one 17-year-old and used excessive force, then pursued a second 17-year-old in a separate alleged use-of-force incident.
What Happened to the Teens
The two boys were ultimately taken into custody without incident, the report notes. One of the teens suffered minor injuries as a result of the use of force, though there was no indication either youth suffered injuries requiring hospitalization. The specific physical actions Acosta allegedly took during the arrests were not disclosed in court filings, and no damage to the campus tied to the reported burglary was reported.
Acosta was placed on administrative leave the day of the incident. In December 2024, the Desert Hot Springs Police Department requested an investigation by the Riverside County Sheriff's Force Investigations Detail. The department later terminated Acosta on March 27, 2025, based on its internal investigation's findings, according to the Desert Sun.
Investigations and Certification
The Riverside County Sheriff's Office lists its Force Investigations Detail within its Major Crimes Bureau. In this case, that unit investigated the force allegations; the police department's separate internal review provided the basis for its employment decision, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Office and the account above. California POST materials say the state may suspend or revoke an officer's certification for defined convictions or serious misconduct. Those materials do not establish whether the certification process was considered in Acosta's case or whether his certification was suspended or revoked, according to the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training.
Arrest and Arraignment
Acosta was arrested in November 2025, nearly a year after the incident. He posted $30,000 bond and was released the same day from the John J. Benoit Detention Center, according to KTLA. At his arraignment the following month, Acosta, then 30, pleaded not guilty to felony charges of gun assault, filing a false report and assault by a peace officer, the report said.
The case proceeded from an administrative investigation and termination to criminal charges and a plea deal reducing the felony counts to misdemeanors. Available reporting does not say whether the plea was negotiated directly with the Riverside County District Attorney's Office.
A Broader Pattern of Use-of-Force Cases
A separate case involving a former Navajo Nation police officer also involved an excessive-force plea. The officer is facing two years in federal prison after pleading guilty in a case involving a stun gun and pepper spray, according to the Albuquerque Journal. That case is unrelated to Acosta's.
Acosta's sentence concludes the criminal proceeding described here. His probation and community service requirements remain in effect.
