A Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy has been fired after pleading guilty to a federal civil rights violation for using excessive force on a transgender man in a 7-Eleven parking lot last year, and then lying about the incident.

The officer admitted to filing a false incident report seeking to cover up his actions following a transgender man's violent arrest.

In Los Angeles, eight L.A. sheriff’s deputies have been fired for their roles in the arrest and beating of a transgender man outside a convenience store in February 2023. Emmett Brock was driving home from his job as a teacher when he was followed by deputy Joseph Benza to a 7-Eleven parking lot,

Days after a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy agreed to plead guilty to beating a transgender man for flipping him off, at least eight colleagues have been relieved of duty amid the investigation into an alleged cover-up,

After Deputy Joseph Benza III assaulted Emmett Brock during a traffic stop, Benza and colleagues discussed deleting text messages related to the matter. Benza has pleaded guilty to one charge in the case.

Former California police officer Joseph Benza III – who assaulted a trans man for flipping him off and then lied about it – is set to plead guilty to felony deprivation of rights under color of law after agreeing to a plea deal earlier this week. He faces up to 10 years in federal prison.

As part of the plea agreement, Joseph Benza III cannot seek future employment as a sworn law enforcement officer at the federal, state or local levels.