PITTSBURGH—A resident of Fayette County, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty today on a charge of deprivation of civil rights, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

Norman L. Howard, 42, of Wards Road, Grindstone, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to one count before Chief U.S. District Judge Joy Flowers Conti.

On or about May 26, 2013, Howard, the former Officer in Charge of the Redstone Township Police Department, willfully deprived an individual identified as D.N. by punching D.N. in the face, without justification.

Judge Conti scheduled sentencing for Jan. 22, 2016. The law provides for a maximum sentence of one year in prison, a fine of $100,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorneys Cindy K. Chung and Shaun E. Sweeney are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.