Former Iberia Parish deputy pleads guilty to hitting handcuffed man

U.S. Attorney Stephanie Finley announced Tuesday that a former Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office deputy pleaded guilty to striking a handcuffed man.

Cody Laperouse, 29, of New Iberia, faces up to one year in prison, one year supervised release and a $100,000 fine. A sentencing date was not immediately set.

Laperouse pleaded guilty to a one-count bill of information charging a violation of an individual's civil rights by use of excessive force.

According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, Laperouse, while acting as a deputy of the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office on September 29, 2013, struck a man who was under arrest and on the ground with his hands cuffed behind his back. Laperouse was one of several officers tasked with dispersing a large crowd around 1:40 a.m. that had gathered after the close of the Sugar Cane Festival in New Iberia. The crowd was asked to disperse, and the victim was arrested during this time. The victim was instructed to lie flat on the ground in a face-down position, but instead remained on his side and did not comply with the instructions. Laperouse struck the victim twice, using excessive force.

"Law enforcement officers play a critical role in our society and every day put their lives on the line to serve our citizens," said Finley. "They are the unsung heroes who take an oath to follow the law and to keep us safe. Unfortunately, Mr. Laperouse breached that trust and violated his oath by using excessive force on a member of our community."

The FBI and Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office Internal Affairs Division conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph T. Mickel and Jamilla A. Bynog are prosecuting the case.