Three former officers of the Mount Carmel Borough Police Department have been sentenced to prison by Chief United States District Judge Matthew W. Brann.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced the sentences Friday.

According to U.S. Attorney Brian D. Miller, the three were sentenced Oct. 30 for their participation in a conspiracy to violate the civil rights of those they arrested from 2018 to 2021. Each of the former officers previously entered guilty pleas to conspiracy to use excessive force against those they arrested and to cover up their crimes.

Former Lt. David Donkochik, 53, of Catawissa, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison. Former Officer Jonathan McHugh, 36, of Tamaqua, was sentenced to six years. Former Officer Kyle Schauer, 36, of Catawissa, was sentenced to four years.

Miller said that during 22 different arrests, the defendants kicked, punched, choked and otherwise used excessive force against those they were arresting, injuring the suspects.

Donkochik, McHugh and Schauer also took steps to ensure that video of the arrests were not captured by police cameras, or if footage that incriminated them was captured. They also took steps to ensure that footage was not preserved.

They falsely reported that the arrestees acted in a manner requiring violence and then charged them with aggravated assault, resisting arrest and related offenses to conceal their own use of force.

When imposing the sentence, Brann highlighted the violence and brutality the officers employed. The judge also noted the efforts the officers took to cover up their violence by charging the victims with crimes they had not committed.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police. The sentencing announcement was delayed by the federal government shutdown.