SPOKANE, Wash. – Former Spokane County Sheriff’s Office sergeant Clay Hilton has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges stemming from a 2023 incident. The indictment, filed on October 23, 2025, includes two counts against Hilton.
Hilton is charged with using unreasonable force against Kevin Hinton on August 14, 2023. The indictment alleges Hilton punched and kneed Hinton in the head and torso, violating his constitutional rights.
The second count accuses Hilton of falsifying a Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Field Case Report on August 15, 2023. The report allegedly contained false statements about knives in Hinton’s vehicle to obstruct an FBI investigation.
Hilton’s trial is set for January 5, 2026, although the date may change if more preparation time is needed.
The charges relate to an incident at Terrace View Park, where Hilton approached Hinton for illegal parking. The investigation determined Hinton was resting before heading to Colfax. But when approached by Hilton refused to provide identification leading to the arrest. An investigation determined Hilton used excessive force resulting in injuries to Hinton including eight shattered ribs and a punctured lung.
In September 2024, following an internal investigation, the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office announced Hilton’s termination. Sheriff John Nowels said at the time, “After reviewing the internal investigation, it was clear that some members of the Sheriff’s Office, including supervisors, did not adhere to our standards of conduct during and after this incident.”
Nowels noted that disciplinary actions were taken and policies for documenting and reviewing force use were changed.
