NATCHEZ — The Ellard brothers, who are the alleged victims of the Natchez police officers arrested by the FBI for civil rights violations, pleaded guilty to simple assault and resisting arrest in circuit court Monday.

The incident occurred May 2009, when Jason and Daniel Ellard allegedly fought with law enforcement officers outside the bar Dimples, according to a police report.

The pleas came two days before the scheduled date of their trial for the charges.

The Ellard brothers contacted the FBI last year about events that allegedly occurred after their arrests, which led to an FBI investigation and arrest of Natchez Police officers Elvis Prater and Dewayne Johnson.

The brothers claimed they were driven to a location after being handcuffed and beaten by law enforcement officers.

Prater and Johnson were indicted Aug. 20 for civil rights violations and making false statements. Johnson was also indicted on one count of conspiracy.

Jason Ellard filed a civil lawsuit on June 23 listing the City of Natchez, Johnson and at least five other unnamed defendants.

Judge Forest “Al” Johnson delayed the Ellards’ sentencing. He did not set a sentencing hearing date.

Natchez District Attorney Ronnie Harper said he offered the brothers a guilty plea for a lesser charge of simple assault rather than an enhanced charge of simple assault of a law enforcement officer based on consultations with the victim — a police officer — and his advisors.

“We determined (a guilty plea) was in the best interest of justice and would be the most productive resolution,” Harper said.

Harper said the maximum sentence for simple assault of a law enforcement officer is five years in the state penitentiary. The maximum sentence for regular simple assault is six months in the county jail.

The case was originally assigned to Judge Lillie Blackmon Sanders, but she recused herself Sept. 9. Sanders’s husband Everett is the City of Natchez’s attorney.