Pima County Jail Officer Sentenced to 3 Years Probation for Assaulting Inmate

A Pima County Jail corrections officer has been sentenced to three years probation following a guilty plea to aggravated assault against an inmate. Ayden Escarrega, aged 20 at the time of the incident, struck Joshua Garcia, 37, six times in the face, rendering him unconscious.

The altercation occurred on August 31 when Garcia allegedly became aggressive while being processed. As officers attempted to restrain him, Escarrega delivered punches to Garcia’s face while another officer held him down. The inmate sustained facial injuries and was transported for medical evaluation before returning to jail.

Prior to this incident, Garcia had been arrested for disorderly conduct and assault; however, those charges were later dismissed. An officer had recommended that Garcia receive behavioral health treatment following his release due to his concerning behavior during the incident.

During sentencing, Escarrega avoided jail time. Garcia’s attorney, Paul Gattone, expressed disappointment, arguing that a minimum sentence of 30 days was warranted given the gravity of the offense. He described the assault as a breach of public trust, asserting that excessive force was unjustifiable regardless of Garcia’s custody status.

Escarrega’s initial charges were dropped four days post-incident to allow law enforcement further investigation, but he faced recharges and was arraigned by December. Gattone remarked on the leniency of the plea agreement and suggested it may have been influenced by Escarrega’s former position.

In letters submitted to the judge, Escarrega’s defense attorney claimed that his client felt genuine remorse for his actions. One letter, from Pima County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Heather Lappin, indicated that Escarrega’s behavior was atypical and attributed part of the incident to his inexperience, noting that a staffing shortage had resulted in inadequate training on force de-escalation techniques.

Before the incident, Escarrega had worked at the jail for over a year without prior disciplinary issues. He was terminated from his position on February 14, shortly after entering his guilty plea, yet indications surfaced that he might reapply for a corrections officer position upon completing his probation.

In response to the sentencing, Sheriff’s Department spokesperson Adam Schoonover reaffirmed the department’s commitment to upholding ethical standards. He emphasized that any conduct undermining public trust is taken seriously.

Garcia, meanwhile, plans to continue pursuing a civil lawsuit against Escarrega along with Sheriff Chris Nanos and four other officers involved. This incident adds to growing scrutiny of corrections practices, particularly following a separate case involving excessive force that led to the death of inmate Wade Welch in 2022. Gattone criticized the prosecuting office’s reluctance to act decisively in cases involving police violence, calling the situation unfortunate.