Two Santa Barbara County Sheriff custody deputies charged
with assault by a public officer pleaded not guilty Friday morning.
Criminal charges were filed against Robert Kirsch and
Christopher Johnson after a Santa Barbara County Jail inmate complained of
unnecessary use of force, according to the sheriff's office.
The sheriff's office says the complaint was brought to its
attention on June 18 and, after an investigation, notified the district
attorney's office of its findings.
The sheriff's office says the charges against Kirsch and
Johnson were filed after the district attorney's office reviewed the evidence.