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Sheriff's Deputy Quits After He Said He Was Forced To Beat Mentally Ill Inmate

LOS ANGELES (AP) —  Records show a rookie Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy quit after only three weeks on the job after a supervisor forced him to beat up a mentally ill jail inmate.

The Los Angeles Times reported Thursday that 23-year-old Joshua Sathers, who graduated at the top of his class, was so disturbed after the March incident and subsequent cover-up at the Twin Towers jail that he resigned and moved to Colorado.

The incident was investigated by the sheriff's department, which determined that no misconduct had occurred although an uncooperative inmate had been subdued.

The district attorney also investigated a complaint that Sathers' uncle, sheriff's Detective Steve Sathers, threatened to kill his nephew's supervisor. The district attorney declined to file charges.

The FBI is investigating inmate abuse allegations at the jails.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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