Candidates for a 25th Judicial District judge vacancy will be interviewed on Sept. 8 at the Finney County Courthouse. Gavel
San Diego, California – A federal jury has convicted San Diego Sheriff’s Deputy Jeremiah Manuyag Flores of violating a man’s civil rights after prosecutors said he violently assaulted a pretrial detainee inside the San Diego Central Courthouse — then lied about what happened.
The Department of Justice announced Friday that the jury found Flores guilty of depriving a man in custody of his constitutional rights under the Fourteenth Amendment and of falsifying records during a federal investigation. The conviction stems from an incident on Aug. 29, 2024, inside the downtown courthouse.
According to evidence presented at trial, Flores was assigned to the Sheriff’s Court Services Bureau and was escorting a 57-year-old man, identified in court records as J.P., from a courtroom to a holding cell following a hearing. J.P. was fully restrained, with his legs chained and his hands cross-chained to his waist.
As the two moved down the hallway, prosecutors said Flores grabbed the back of J.P.’s shirt with both hands and aggressively pushed him forward. When they reached the open door of the holding cell, Flores forcefully shoved J.P. from behind, sending him flying across the cell.
J.P. smashed headfirst into the wall and collapsed onto the floor, according to the DOJ. A deputy nearby witnessed part of the encounter, and as the cell door closed, Flores allegedly remarked, “What? Nothing happened.”
Prosecutors said Flores then walked away without checking on J.P., summoning medical assistance, or reporting any use of force to a supervisor — all required under the San Diego Sheriff’s Office’s Use of Force Policy.
More than two hours later, another deputy discovered J.P. still lying in the same position on the cell floor, suffering from a head wound and surrounded by a pool of blood. By then, the injuries were severe.
J.P. sustained a spinal injury that required surgery and left him hospitalized for months, according to court records.
Despite the extent of the injuries, Flores later filed an incident report falsely stating that “no force was used” when placing J.P. into the holding cell, prosecutors said. That report became a key piece of evidence in the federal case.
U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon said the verdict sends a clear message about accountability in law enforcement.
“Today’s verdict makes one thing unmistakably clear: the badge does not excuse brutality,” Gordon said in a statement. “When an officer abuses power and inflicts harm on someone in their custody, it is a crime — and this office will hold them accountable.”
Flores now faces serious prison time. His convictions include Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and Falsification of Records in a Federal Investigation, which carries up to 20 years. Each charge also carries a potential fine of $250,000.
Sentencing is scheduled for April 1, 2026.
