Former San Diego County Sheriff’s Deputy Sentenced to Federal Prison for Excessive Force and Cover-Up

SAN DIEGO - Former San Diego County Sheriff's Deputy Jeremiah Manuyag Flores was sentenced in federal court today to 57 months in prison for violating the civil rights of a pretrial detainee by using excessive force that caused a spinal injury, then lying in a report to cover up his illegal conduct.

"When a law enforcement officer abuses his authority and violates someone's constitutional rights, there will be serious consequences," said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon.

"Upholding civil rights is fundamental to the mission of every law enforcement agency. When an officer violates that oath, equal accountability is essential to maintaining the public's trust," said Special Agent in Charge Mark Remily of the FBI's San Diego Field Office. "Today's sentence reflects the commitment of the FBI and our law enforcement partners to thoroughly investigate such matters and ensure those who abuse their authority face appropriate consequences."

After a weeklong trial in December 2025, it took a jury just two hours to convict Flores of both counts filed against him, including Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law and Falsification of Records in a Federal Investigation.

The jury found that Flores violated the civil rights of the victim, identified by the initials J.P., by unnecessarily shoving him from behind while his legs were shackled and his hands were cross-chained at his waist, causing J.P. to fly across his holding cell, slam headfirst into the far wall, and collapse to the ground with what was later determined to be a fracture of his spinal column.

Flores did not provide J.P. with medical aid and failed to report his use of excessive force to a supervisor, both of which are required by the Sheriff's Department's Use of Force Policy. As a result, J.P. lay on the floor of his cell next to a pool of his own blood for over two hours before his injuries were discovered by another deputy. When Flores then was directed to write an Inmate Status Report about his earlier interaction with J.P., he included multiple false statements, including "no force was used."

In advocating for a lengthy prison term, Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Askins argued: "The power disparity between the defendant who was in complete control and [J.P.] who couldn't do anything to protect himself was as wide as the ocean. The defendant's only job was to walk with him." Askins continued: "There was no escalation here. There was no resistance here. The defendant didn't have to use any force at all. All he had to do was to keep walking."

Before pronouncing sentence, U.S. District Judge Linda Lopez noted that the public does not get to see what goes on inside jail facilities and relies on law enforcement officers to "do the right thing." She discussed at length that Flores not only used excessive force but then told another deputy "nothing happened" and repeatedly ignored multiple opportunities in the two hours afterwards to help the victim. Addressing Flores, Judge Lopez said: "What you do then matters." In referencing a still-shot from a surveillance camera that showed Flores walking away from the victim's cell smiling in the moments afterward, Judge Lopez said: "I don't know how many years it's going to be before I get that photo out of my mind. Your conduct was egregious."

Flores, who had been free on bond, was ordered to report to prison by August 18, 2026. As a result of his convictions, Flores was terminated by the San Diego Sheriff's Office and will not be able to work as a law enforcement officer at any level of government-local, state, or federal-in the future.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Seth Askins and Michael Deshong.

DEFENDANTS Case Number 25cr0254

Jeremiah Manuyag Flores Age: 45 La Jolla, CA

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law - Title 18, U.S.C., Section 242

Maximum penalty: Ten years in prison and $250,000 fine

Falsification of Records in a Federal Investigation - Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1519

Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $250,000 fine

INVESTIGATING AGENCIES

Federal Bureau of Investigation

San Diego County Sheriff's Office (Homicide Unit)