LOS ANGELES – A prosecution witness told a federal jury Tuesday that he watched unseen as Los Angeles County jail guards beat an apparently unconscious inmate. He said the brutal images from seven years ago are impossible to erase from his mind.
The memories were “beat into my brain,” said John Maestaz, a 48-year-old state prison inmate. “It was a memory I can see frame-by-frame in my mind — because it was that fierce of a beating.”
Maestaz took the stand against deputies Joey Aguiar and Mariano Ramirez, the latest of 21 current and former sheriff’s officials to be tried by federal authorities in connection with the FBI’s multi-year investigation into brutality and other misconduct in the sheriff’s department.
Federal authorities allege that Aguiar and Ramirez violated the civil rights of Bret Phillips of Lancaster by assaulting him inside the Men’s Central Jail on Feb. 11, 2009. Prosecutors say the inmate was handcuffed to a waist chain during the attack.
The indictment alleges the deputies kicked Phillips in the head and upper body, struck him with a flashlight, pepper-sprayed him in the face and then lied about it in official reports.
Maestaz, who is halfway through a 21-year sentence for gang-related voluntary manslaughter, testified that he was incarcerated at the jail when he secretly watched as Aguiar and Ramirez battered the “unmoving” head and body of the handcuffed and plainly unconscious Phillips.
Maestaz said he was in a shower area of the facility when he heard noises, turned and saw Phillips “laying on the ground with two deputies on top of him.”
One of the deputies, the witness said, was “riding” on Phillips’ back, repeatedly “slamming” his fist into the back of the man’s head, while a second deputy was also striking the inmate.
“I was able to see everything that was going on — but I did not want to be seen,” Maestaz said. “I was afraid of repercussions.”
The witness said he soon noticed the jail chaplain about 15 feet away, also watching what was happening and apparently unseen by the deputies.
“He looked astonished, with this expression like, ‘Oh, my God,”‘ Maestaz said of the minister. “It was a brutal beating.”
The chaplain, Paulino Juarez, testified last week that he also witnessed Aguiar and Ramirez punching the handcuffed, unresisting Phillips, leaving the man in a puddle of blood.
Phillips, 44, took the stand Friday to tell the panel that he apparently angered Aguiar by lobbing milk cartons at the lawman, because the guard had left him tightly handcuffed to a waist chain inside his cell instead of removing the restraints once he was inside.
After one of the cartons struck Aguiar’s shoe, Phillips said, he was brought out of his cell and ordered to face a wall.
“I just had that feeling that something was going to happen,” the former inmate testified. “I was nervous. I knew I did something wrong by throwing the milk cartons.”
Phillips said he could tell he was in trouble by the “demeanor” of Aguiar and Ramirez.
At that point, the witness testified, his head was “slammed” into the wall, Ramirez placed him in a chokehold and he blacked out.
“Could you protect yourself from punches or kicks?,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Mack Jenkins asked.
Phillips responded, “No, I couldn’t.”
The ex-inmate — who told the jury that he suffers from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia — said he awoke on a gurney surrounded by deputies as he was being taken to a medical facility for treatment of his injuries.
Defense attorneys contend the use of force was reasonable and perfectly legal while trying to contain Phillips, who they maintain was unruly and violent.
But Maestaz said Phillips “had a blank look on his face” during the beating and was not moving off the floor.
“They’re hitting him and he’s not responding — he’s not there,” the witness testified.
Later that day, deputies came down the row, asking inmates if they had “seen anything” that morning, Maestaz said.
The witness said he told the deputies, “I didn’t see nothing.”
He told the jury that he never told authorities what he had witnessed until two years ago when FBI agents came to interview him in his prison cell.
When told in 2014 that he may have to testify against the deputies in federal court, Maestaz said he responded that he didn’t want to be “judged” as someone who snitched.
During cross-examination, Vicki Podberesky, Ramirez’s attorney, attempted to catch the witness in prior inconsistent statements.
Maestaz, she suggested, had initially told federal investigators that Phillips had “broken away” and run from a deputy who was bringing him back to his cell prior to the incident.
But the witness was adamant Tuesday that the guard’s hand had slipped from Phillips’ sleeve and the inmate had merely “backed slowly out of my view” before any force was used.”
Aguiar and Ramirez face several criminal counts, including conspiring to violate federal civil rights, deprivation of rights under color of law that caused injuries, and preparing a false report.
If convicted as charged, the deputies — who are on unpaid leave from the department — each face more than 10 years in federal prison.
Testimony continues at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday in Courtroom 14, U.S. District Court, 312 N. Spring Street, Los Angeles.
Previous related stories:
Ex-inmate tells jury of being left bloody and unconscious by jail guards
Chaplain tells L.A. jury of seeing jail guards punching ‘unconscious’ inmate
Ex-sheriff’s deputies go on trial for alleged inmate assault
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AVHater4Life says
Dirty pigs don’t even deserve a trial, more like a short rope and a tall tree. Nothing is lower than a dirty cop. God help these punks if I ever end up on a jury for one of these evidence-planting losers. I used to watch these smug d-bags sitting in the bar knocking back the drinks, secure in their knowledge that they’d drive home after without a care in the world, protected by their tin shield.
AVHater4Life says
I never could understand why AV has such a nasty little curse placed on it. I never had any problems with the law until I moved to AV, then end up in jail on some petty garbage, moved away and life was good, moved back to AV only to watch my life fall apart again, moved away and all is good, move back to AV and watch it all fall apart again, leave AV and life is smooth sailing. I’ve heard 100 different people say the same thing; they never had trouble with pigs cops until they came to AV. That boring, ugly, cop loving sewer is a place best seen in the rear-view mirror.
Danny says
A statement from a star convict, ya right unseen hiding in a cell. It smells and its deeeep. This is a bunch of smelly bs I’d say good job cops kick the crap out of any criminal their scum anyways and shouldn’t be around.
Don't judge says
That’s [removed]. As he is paying his debt to society…he gets beat on top of it.
People don’t think before they speak. This guy has a family , a life like we all do .
Your scum..and hope you never get your ass beat by those who are supposed to protect and serve.
pirrurris says
Danny, it is all fun and games until you get your ass beat by the thugs with badges
Danny says
Your right the thugs (not the cop) think it’s great to act like a child and throw stuff, spit, disrespect etc. truly fun and games for them. These POS’s and most likely the likes of you have it coming and they deserve every bit of it. Grow up and act like a man not like some little child if your going to go out and act fool be ready to pay the price. If it’s a butt kicking from a cop well it is what it what is. This fool and his joke for an attorney are wasting good tax money it can be better used hiring more badges.
Also the fool with the post above yours don’t hope for me it will never happen. If this guy had a family maybe he shouldn’t be out doing criminal activities.
pirrurris says
I ask again…where are the good cops stopping these POS thugs with badges? The senior leadership needs to be held accountable too. Of course, that will not happen because the judges, DA’s, and crooked cops, are all in bed with each other. These POS thugs with badges, are costing the taxpayers millions in lawsuites every year and nothing is being done.
If these POS thugs with badges cannot do the job, they should get the hell out to make room for someone that really wants to be there.
honky says
Im guessing you are probably on the side of the inmate. Lets just say this. Follow me for a day at my job and put the badge on. You will get a different look on things. They arent innocent. Thats why they are in prison. Plus look at dude wrap sheet. Speaks for its self
Michelle Egberts says
Get it right “Honky” RAp Sheet…does your stupid self knows what that stands for? Ignoramus
Cleo Watts Jr says
Well Michelle, you have quite a lengthy rap sheet, why don’t you tell us what it stands for.
Michelle Egberts says
Records and Prosecution… Cleo, arrests don’t necessarily mean prosecuted/convicted. Trials which the defendant is found not guilty are costly to the county and those who falsely accused them. Ask your corrupt Mayor Rex Parris and his stupid deputies who don’t know the law. Million dollars total in trials for their lies
Cleo Watts Jr says
You are correct Michelle. Arrests are not convictions and neither are “not guilty” verdicts. However, guilty verdicts for bilking old men out of money ARE convictions, in fact, ONE of YOUR several convictions. I invite people to Google your name and see for themselves.
P. S. – Heard from Reba lately?
Cali Palmdale says
Ok I agree there is good and there’s is bad but if this guy had a bad previous record im sure he dint just get beat up for nothing. And yeah im sure the inmate witness will defend him if he had a clean record never in trouble with the law well then different story. If you are a convicted criminal you shouldn’t be able to sue Law Enforcement once a thug always a thug we don’t have room for those kind and they still get a right to sue after they live free meals showers no worries all they worrie about who they going to rob or getting high when they get out. And yes there are cops who react different in all situations BUT ITS a tough job dealing with a lot of scum bags.
mark says
Just an FYI the witness was not an inmate, it was a Priest doing work inside the jail.
pirrurris says
Honky, trust me…you would not want me following you around, because if i see you idiots beating someone just for the hell of it, I would do something about it. I would not turn a blind eye. If you don’t like your job, get the hell out. You are just costing the taxpayers money. Make room for someone who really wants to be there.
Mark says
What those deputies did was also very illegal. Falsify an official record, severely beating somebody while they’re chained up, and trying to cover up the incident. Remember this man didn’t say anything until the authorities came knocking on his door.
pirrurris says
Danny, i think we should require the thugs with badges to start wearing body cameras. Did you know that Americans are 8 times more likely to get killed by thugs with badges, than by a terrorist?
Stinger says
Obviously, honky, you are not in law enforcement. First clue: no LEO would refer to jail as prison as they are two totally different things. Second clue: there are some innocent people in jail – that’s just statistics talking, they can not ALL be guilty as many are pretrial and as any law enforcement officer knows, sometimes innocents get arrested and it’s for the courts to sort them out. Third clue: It’s called a rap sheet, not a ‘wrap’ sheet. No real cop would ever get that wrong.
Good cops hate bad cops. They make the job harder than it already is.
Joey B says
@pirrurris
If you are so worried and judge mental why don’t you join and become a deputy. That way you can help “clean up all the crooked cops” as you say. You have no ideas or experience in law enforcement to being commenting so much. It’s easy to talk when you know nothing about it.
Cali Palmdale says
Really im sure the Chaplin will defend the inmate he is a man who thinks all criminals rapist killers child molester deserve to be forgiven wow I really cant understand people that defend criminals so much lets start by trying to see why this guy who got beat up was in for was he a good hard working citizen and just got put in jail for no reason. remember a criminal its just like a drug addict or alcoholic they are never at fault and they always play the victim. And it just get me furious how there’s people who defend them PLEASE sign up go for a ride along in The AV with a deputy and you will finally open your eyes and see how much disrespect they get there is to mush trash out to be cleaned LASD or any Dep have a stressing job if they wouldn’t be it would even got more out of control than what it is.
mark says
The Christian faith does preach forgiveness, but forgiveness does not forgive somebody’s debt to society. I’m not saying law enforcement is an easy job, but I think law enforcement officers need to follow the rules. I’m saying this inmate was a perfect person. I’ve never met this man. What I am saying is these two deputies broke the law. What joys do you get from beating a helpless person. Yes helpless, he was chained. Having a stressful job does not exempt you from the law. I’m glad we have law enforcement to protect our society. If they can’t handle the stress of the job, I think it’s time for them to find a new line of work. I want a law enforcement officer that can handle the stress. I do not want a law enforcement officer who can not they are in charge of public safety!!! These two deputies broke the law, and what don’t you understand about breaking the law?
pirrurris says
Joey, I did more than 21 years in the military, and have better leadership and management skills than you…and your thugs with badges. Don’t forget that most of your tactics…were learned from the military. You even love dressing up like the military but you are not in the military. One one the hardest things you have to do as a leader… is calibrate one of your own. If your leadership is not holding the POS thugs with badges accountable, they themselves are part of the problem.
Joey B says
@pirrurris
What are you talking about. Just assuming I’m law enforcement. If that’s your great leadership and management skills they are very poor. I have nothing to do with any form of law enforcement. I was brought up to respect people. The way you write you sound like a thug yourself. It’s obvious you have an extremely low IQ.
Tim Scott says
What’s obvious is that your “being brought up to respect people” has apparently worn off.
pirrurris says
Joey, how do you want people to respect the thugs with badges, when they go around shooting unarmed civilians and treating them like second class citizens? The way you write and sound…it’s obvious your are a Trump admirer. :).