OKLAHOMA CITY — The U.S. Department of Justice says a former Oklahoma sheriff’s lieutenant has pleaded guilty to using a stun gun to assault a man who was under arrest.

The department said in a news release that former Bryan County Lt. Kevin Bennett Holt of Achille pleaded guilty to violating the civil rights of the inmate. The department said Tuesday that Holt admitted during a plea hearing that he intentionally used the stun gun to shock the man who was strapped in a restraint chair.

In November, a federal grand jury announced a six-count indictment against Holt on federal civil rights violations and obstruction of justice for allegedly using a Taser on a woman who had been arrested and two jail inmates in 2010.

Sheriff Bill Sturch said last year that his office initiated the investigation into allegations against Holt and then turned the case over to the FBI due to the alleged civil rights violations.

Holt resigned from the sheriff’s office in January 2011. He was also once a police officer in Achille.

A former sheriff’s deputy who once spoke with the Democrat about the case, said that among the allegations was that Holt had used a Taser against inmates who were in a restraint chair.Under federal law, using excessive force against an inmate is a civil rights violation.

Holt faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine when sentenced. A sentencing date was not announced.