BEXAR COUNTY, Texas – A Bexar County Sheriff’s deputy, now in custody at the detention center where he worked, is accused of hitting an inmate in the face and lying about it.

Michael Cesar Fernandez, 40, has been charged with violating an inmate’s civil rights and falsifying government records.

Fernandez is believed to have hit and injured an inmate on June 15, 2016 at the Bexar County Adult Detention Center.

The inmate told officials that Fernandez intentionally hit him in the face, which countered the incident report written by the deputy.

The indictment states that Fernandez lied on the incident report claiming he “inadvertently” hit the inmate.

Fernandez was arrested on Friday at 11:15 a.m. He is facing four charges for the incident including official oppression, violation of civil rights of person in custody, assault causing bodily injury and tampering with record. 

“Although this incident occurred before my tenure as Sheriff, I am committed to assisting the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office in seeking justice in this case," said Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar.