Ex-Cop Gets Four Years In Prison After Forcing A Homeless Man To Lick Urinal; Judge: “You Stripped Him Of His Dignity”

On Wednesday, a former Honolulu, Hawaii police officer, was sentenced to four years in prison after forcing a homeless man to lick a urinal to avoid going to jail.

John Rabago was scolded by U.S. District Judge Leslie Kobayashi, who said during his sentencing, “I’m here to judge you on the worst thing you’ve done in your life. You took from [that man] his dignity as a human being.”

In 2018, Rabago and officer Reginald Ramones responded to a nuisance complaint at a local shopping mall, where they found the 37-year-old homeless man in a stall in the public bathroom.

According to court papers, the victim told the cops he would do “anything” to avoid getting arrested.

“If you lick the urinal, you won’t get arrested,” Rabago told the man. He also allegedly threatened to beat him by shoving his face in a toilet if he didn’t lick the urinal, the New York Post reports.

Rabago also stepped on the man’s legs to keep him on his knees until he complied with commands, according to Bossip.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Brady said Rabago initially laughed at the incident before later denying it happened. He also allegedly told Ramones to delete their text exchanges of the incident.

Rightfully, both officers were charged with depriving the man of his civil rights. Ramones has since left the department and pleaded guilty to not reporting Rabago’s gross violation of the victim’s civil rights. He is scheduled to be sentenced next week.

The representing attorney of the victim, Myles Breiner, said his client was “pleasantly surprised” by Rabago’s four-year sentence, while on the other hand, many feel like his cruel act and abuse of power should have received a longer sentence.

“He was under the impression that they would coddle him and give him a minimum term, a very low sentence,” said Breiner.

Defense attorney Megan Kau said she feels the judge is “taking the national environment and making him [Rabago] an example.”

During Wednesday’s sentencing, the former officer apologized to the victim and his family. “Two years ago, I made a decision I’m not proud of,” he said. “My actions changed the course of life for all of us.”