WASHINGTON--  A Pennsylvania police officer pleaded guilty today to using excessive force on a victim who was handcuffed and not posing a threat to the officer, violating the prisoner's civil rights, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Mark E. Thom Jr., 31, a Springdale Borough, Pennsylvania Police officer, is facing up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 when he is sentenced in July, federal official stated.

According to documents, on December 17, 2011, Thom used excessive force on the victim during the course of making an arrest by assaulting the male suspect with his fists and deploying a Taser, all while the victim was handcuffed and not posing a threat to Thom or others.

 "Police officers who abuse their power to assault citizens undermine the system of constitutional government they are sworn to uphold," said Assistant Attorney General  Thomas Perez. "As the plea in this case shows, the Civil Rights Division will work closely with our United States Attorneys to aggressively enforce the laws that prohibit police misconduct."

BIRMINGHAM ­­­­­­-  Former Tuscaloosa Sheriff's sergeant was sentenced today to five years in prison for civil rights violations in connection with illegally using a Taser against three detainees, according to the U.S. Attorney and the FBI.

Sgt. Althea Mallisham, 52, admitted she used an X26 Taser to electro-shock the pre-trial detainees who were either restrained in handcuffs or securely locked in a jail cell, federal officials stated.  None of the detainees posed a physical threat to any officers or other detainees when they were electro-shocked, according to federal authorities.

Mallisham used the Taser to shock the detainees as a means of punishment.