This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

A former Salt Lake County sheriff's deputy charged with assaulting a prisoner two years ago while working as a bailiff at the Matheson Courthouse in Salt Lake City has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.

Matthew Routt, 45, was charged with class B misdemeanor assault in Salt Lake City's justice court.

He pleaded guilty on Thursday to disorderly conduct, an infraction.

Judge Jeanne Robison fined Rout $250 as part of a six-month probation.

On July 21, 2014, according to court documents, Routt was working as a bailiff and assigned to watch over the prisoner holding area. One prisoner who was shackled and had his hands cuffed behind his back grew upset, court documents say.

Routt told the prisoner to be quiet. As Routt was closing a door, the prisoner approached it, court documents say. Court papers say Routt opened the door, pushed the prisoner in the chest, causing him to fall backwards onto a concrete bench and into a wall.

Routt then grabbed the prisoner by the neck, threw him to the other end of the bench and put his hands on the prisoner's neck again, court papers say. Two other bailiffs tried to stop Routt, documents say, and encouraged the prisoner to "tap out."

In January, the Police Officer Standards and Training Council suspended Routt from working in law enforcement for three years. He resigned from the sheriff's office on Jan. 20.