Former Police Officer SENTENCED Over Brutal 2022 Attack

A former Arkansas police officer has been sentenced to time in a medical facility after he was caught on video violently assaulting a man in 2022.

At a glance:

  • Former Arkansas deputy Levi White has been sentenced to 63 months in federal prison for violating a man’s civil rights during a 2022 arrest.
  • White’s violent arrest of Randal Worcester, caught on video, led to federal charges after the footage went viral.
  • White and another former deputy, Zackary King, both pleaded guilty to the charges, while a third officer involved was not charged in the federal case.

A former Arkansas deputy, Levi White, has been sentenced to 63 months in a federal medical facility after pleading guilty to a felony civil rights violation for his role in a violent arrest in 2022. U.S. District Judge Susan O. Hickey handed down the sentence on Wednesday, also recommending that White receive medical counseling and treatment while confined at the United States Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Missouri. The judge credited White for time served and ordered that he be placed on supervised release for two years after his prison term.

The incident took place on August 21, 2022, when White, alongside fellow deputy Zackary King, arrested Randal Worcester outside a convenience store in Mulberry, Arkansas. The arrest was captured on video by a bystander and widely shared online. The footage shows White and King repeatedly punching Worcester while a third officer, Mulberry Police Officer Thell Riddle, held him down. At one point, White is seen slamming Worcester’s head onto the pavement.

White pleaded guilty to a charge of deprivation of rights under color of law, acknowledging his unlawful use of force during the arrest. His attorney did not respond to requests for comment after the sentencing. White’s co-defendant, Zackary King, also pleaded guilty to similar charges and is scheduled to be sentenced soon.

The arrest stemmed from an incident in nearby Alma, Arkansas, where Worcester was being questioned by police for allegedly threatening a convenience store clerk. Police said Worcester tackled one of the deputies and punched him before being restrained. Worcester faces charges related to the arrest, including resisting arrest and second-degree battery, and his trial is set for February.

Worcester has also filed a lawsuit against the three officers involved, as well as the city of Mulberry and Crawford County, seeking damages for the excessive force used during his arrest. However, the civil case has been put on hold while the criminal cases proceed.

This sentencing marks the conclusion of one part of a high-profile case that drew significant attention due to the brutal nature of the arrest and the viral video footage.