WHEELING – ­ A federal grand jury today indicted the Republican candidate for Hancock County sheriff in an excessive force case.

Mark Cowden, 51, of Weirton faces one count each of deprivation of rights and obstruction of justice, according to U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld.

Cowden allegedly used excessive force during an arrest in January of 2015, and then falsified a document in an attempt to justify his use of force, Ihlenfeld said. The indictment came after an FBI investigation.

Ihlenfeld’s office didn’t detail the nature of the arrest involved in the case. Cowden remains listed as a candidate for Hancock County sheriff on the West Virginia Secretary of State’s office website.

Cowden faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000 for the deprivation of rights charge and up to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000 for the obstruction charge.

Cowden retired from the sheriff’s department last year as a lieutenant with 26 years of service. He ran unopposed in the Republican primary for sheriff, and is slated to face Democrat incumbent Ralph Fletcher, under whom Cowden served at the time of his retirement, in the November general election.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod J. Douglas and Department of Justice Civil Rights Trial Attorney Nicholas Murphy are handling the case on behalf of the government.