SPOKANE, Wash – A former Spokane County deputy already charged with assaulting a man he was trying to arrest now faces federal charges in the case.
A grand jury indicted Clay Hilton for deprivation of rights under the color of law and falsifying records in a federal investigation.
The charges stem from an incident in 2023 when investigators say Hilton “punched and kneed” a man in the head and torso. The indictment says that Hilton violated the man’s right to be free of unreasonable seizure and use of force by a law enforcement officer.
The victim was resting in his car in Spokane Valley and was approached and allegedly assaulted by Hilton.
The man suffered broken ribs, bruises, a cut to his mouth that required stitches and other injuries.
Hilton was fired from the sheriff’s office for misconduct.
The indictment also says Hilton “knowingly made a false entry in a record and document with the intent to impede, obstruct and influence the investigation.”
They say Hilton falsified a field case report by falsely saying, “I could see a folding knife in his driver’s door pocket and fixed blade knife between his seat and the driver’s seat.”
U.S. Marshals arrested Hilton on the new charges this week.
He appeared before a federal judge and entered a not guilty plea.
If convicted on these charges, he faces up to 20 years in prison.
Hilton is already awaiting trial in Spokane County Superior Court on assault charges stemming from this incident.
His trial there is set for March.
The alleged victim is suing Spokane County as well.
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