CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — A federal court unsealed a two-count indictment Thursday against a deputy sheriff in Monongalia County, W.Va., for using excessive force and writing a false report to cover it up.

According to the indictment, Lance Kuretza, 38, punched and elbowed a suspect in the face and, after the man was handcuffed, sprayed him with pepper spray and struck him during an incident Jan. 20, 2018. Court documents accuse Kuretza of lying in his report by claiming he used pepper spray before handcuffing the suspect.

Kuretza was arrested early Thursday morning, according to a press release from U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld.

If convicted, Kuretza faces up to 10 years in prison for the civil rights violation and up to 20 years in prison for falsifying the report.

The FBI is investigating the case with the support of the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office.

An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.