

A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy was charged with assaulting a 19-year-old inmate in the back seat of a patrol car, the District Attorney’s Office announced recently.
Matthew John Funicello, 31 (dob 12/19/1981), is accused of striking an inmate several times with his fist on July 22, 2011. The inmate was being transported from the sheriff’s Palmdale Station to the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in downtown Los Angeles.
The complaint, BA409956, was filed Thursday by Deputy District Attorney Geoffrey Rendon of the Justice System Integrity Division. It charges Funicello with one count of violating Penal Code section 149, assault under color of authority.
Funicello was booked at the Crescenta Valley Station late Thursday and was released on $35,000 bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned May 20 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Department 30.
If convicted, Funicello faces up to three years in county jail.
We are able to provide high-quality political journalism to you for free thanks to our advertisers. So that you can continue to enjoy HEYSOCAL's in-depth reporting, we ask that you please turn off your ad blocker and come on in, free of charge.
Subscribe to our newsletter for this giveaway and many more. Also, stay in the loop for SoCal news and updates.
Your subscription has been confirmed. You've been added to our list and will hear from us soon.
Your request has been confirmed! We will get in touch with you shortly.