Former SLO County deputy dragged prison inmate by his hair. He must go to prison for abuse

A former deputy with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office was sentenced Wednesday to seven months in a federal prison for mistreating an inmate in the county jail, according to a Justice Department press release.

Joshua Fischer, 42, of Grover Beach, worked at the SLO County Jail for about a year from January 2017 to December 2018

While on duty on November 18, 2018, he dragged an inmate by her hair several feet above the ground and then threw her into a prison cell, the press release said.

The incident began when Fischer ordered a shirtless inmate to leave her prison cell and go to the cell next door.

After arguing with Fischer, the woman turned around, folded her arms across her chest and, contrary to Fischer's instructions, began to re-enter her original cell.

Fischer then violently grabbed the victim by the hair and pulled her to the ground, the press release states.

He dragged her several meters across the floor by her hair and then threw her, again by her hair, into a neighboring cell.

Fischer left the woman huddled in the corner of the cell after closing the door, the release said. He later wrote a report of the incident on a sheriff's computer titled “11/18/18 (woman's last name) what a nuisance,” the release said.

At a hearing on Wednesday, Judge André Birotte Jr. said Fischer used “inappropriate” force and showed a “marked level of callousness” and “contempt” toward the victim, the press release said.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas F. Rybarczyk and Frances S. Lewis of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section prosecuted this case.

Fischer pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor violation of law on April 2 and agreed not to seek employment with the police in the future, the press release said.

In his confession, he also admitted to inappropriate and unnecessary use of force and said he acted intentionally and intended to deprive the victim of his rights, the press release said.

The sheriff's office fired Fischer before charges were filed against him and assisted with the FBI's investigation into the incident, the press release said.