FORMER CORRECTIONS OFFICERS CHARGED IN BEATING DEATH

The following excerpt is from the Department of Justice website:
Monday, March 12, 2012
Three Former Corrections Officers Charged with Federal Civil Rights Offenses for Role in Beating Death of an Inmate at Ventress Correctional Facility in Alabama
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department announced today that a federal grand jury has charged Michael Smith, 37, Matthew Davidson, 43, and Joseph Sanders, 31 – former corrections officers of the Alabama Department of Corrections – in a 17-count indictment.   The indictment alleges that the officers participated in the beating of an inmate that resulted in bodily injury and the inmate’s death, and that the officers conspired with each other and other officers to cover up the incident.

The indictment charges all three former officers with felony civil rights violations, with obstruction of justice-related violations, and with making false statements to the FBI.  Defendants Davidson and Sanders are charged with assaulting the victim, which resulted in bodily injury to the victim.   Smith is also charged with assaulting the victim, which resulted in bodily injury to, and the death of, the victim.   Agents of the FBI and the Alabama Bureau of Investigation arrested all three defendants earlier this morning.

The charges stem from an incident that occurred at Ventress Correctional Facility in Clayton, Ala., on Aug.4, 2010, when inmate Rocrast Mack, was severely beaten, suffered significant injuries, and died the following day in a Montgomery, Ala., hospital.   As set forth in the indictment, at the time of the incident, Michael Smith was a lieutenant with supervisory authority over other officers on his shift.   Davidson and Sanders were corrections officers on the same shift with Smith.

Scottie Glenn, another former corrections officer at Ventress, pleaded guilty on Nov.18, 2011, in U.S. District Court in Montgomery to one count of violating the civil rights of Rocrast Mack for his role in the incident and to one count of conspiring with other corrections officers to cover up the incident.   In court, Glenn admitted that he escorted Rocrast Mack in handcuffs to an office at the prison, knowing that Rocrast Mack would be beaten in retaliation for a prior incident.   Glenn also admitted that he and other officers, at the direction of another officer, identified in court documents as Officer A, lied in written reports and lied to investigators to cover up the incident.

If convicted, Smith faces a maximum potential penalty of life in prison or the death penalty. Davidson faces a maximum sentence of 105 years in prison.   Sanders faces a maximum sentence of 75 years in prison.

This case is being investigated by the Mobile, Ala., Division of the FBI, in partnership with the Alabama Bureau of Investigation, and is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Patricia Sumner of the U.S. Department of Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerusha Adams of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama.

An indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

CORRECTIONS OFFICERS IN MIAMI SENTENCED FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AND OBSTRUCTION CHARGES

The following excerpt is from the Department of Justice website:

"MIAMI – Two corrections officers were sentenced to prison today for civil rights and obstruction charges stemming from prisoner abuse that took place at the South Florida Reception Center (SFRC), a state prison in Doral, Fla., the Justice Department announced.  Florida Department of Corrections (FDOC) Sergeant Alexander McQueen, 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Cecilia Altonaga to serve one year in prison, followed by one year of supervised release.   Judge Altonaga also sentenced FDOC Officer Steven Dawkins, 31, to serve one month in prison, followed by six months of supervised release.   

On Oct. 17, 2011, following a jury trial, McQueen was found guilty of conspiracy against civil rights and obstruction of justice for his involvement in, and attempts to cover up, prisoner abuse at SFRC.   The same jury convicted Dawkins of obstruction of justice.   A second jury was unable to reach a verdict with regard to co-defendant Guruba Griffin, 31, and acquitted co-defendant Scott Butler, 32.

According to evidence presented at trial, on Feb. 25, 2009, SFRC corrections officers physically abused inmates by choking, punching and striking them with wooden broom handles.   The officers further forced the inmates to fight one another. Additionally, McQueen and Dawkins falsified reports relating to these incidents.  

           

“Conduct by corrections officers who abuse their power and violate the civil rights of those in their custody will not be tolerated,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights.  “The Justice Department will continue to vigorously prosecute those who cross the line to engage in acts of criminal violence and obstruction.”

U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer stated, “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to prosecuting civil rights violators, especially when they seek to hide behind color of law or official position.” 

“We are pleased with the sentence for McQueen and Dawkins because their actions affected more than those they physically abused, they undermined the public’s trust in law enforcement,” said Special Agent in Charge John V. Gillies of the FBI Miami Division.  "Even though they participated in and attempted to cover up prisoner abuse at the Florida Department of Corrections’ South Florida Reception Center, they failed.  The FBI will continue to work with our partners to remove those corrections officers who cross the line to engage in criminal misconduct.”

Co-defendant Griffin entered a guilty plea to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law on Dec. 13, 2011, and is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 22, 2012.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Inspector General’s Office, Florida Department of Corrections, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan Rhee Osborne of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida and Senior Litigation Counsel Gerard Hogan and Trial Attorney Henry Leventis of the Civil Rights Division."