FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CRT

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2006 (202) 514-2007

WWW.USDOJ.GOV TDD (202) 514-1888

Overton County Sheriff’s Officers

Sentenced for Violating Inmate’s Civil
Rights
WASHINGTON – Former Overton County, Tenn., sheriff’s deputy Gary Grigg and
Lt. Johnny Gann were sentenced late yesterday for their roles in violating the civil
rights of an inmate detained in the Overton County Jail, the Justice Department
announced. Two other co-defendants, Overton County Sheriff’s Jail Administrator
Michael Gilpatrick and Lieutenant James Loftis, still await sentencing. Four
Overton County law enforcement officers have either been convicted or pleaded
guilty in this matter. For his role the crime, Grigg received 41 months in prison
followed by two years of supervised release. Grigg is report to begin his sentence on
Jan. 19, 2007.

Gann who was placed on probation for two years with a special condition that he
spend six months in home detention.

Grigg previously pleaded guilty to conspiring with Gilpatrick and Loftis to have the
victim assaulted, and co-defendant Gann previously pleaded guilty to lying to
federal investigators during the investigation of this incident.

In October, Gilpatrick was found guilty of orchestrating the beating of an inmate at

the request of Grigg, who was trying to find someone who would beat the inmate.
Gann pleaded guilty for his role in covering up the episode.

“These law enforcement officers pledged to protect and serve, not to victimize and
lie,” said Wan J. Kim, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division.
“The criminal behavior of these aberrant officers seriously undermines the dedicated
efforts of the vast majority of law enforcement officers who serve honorably.”

The Civil Rights Division is committed to the vigorous enforcement of every federal
criminal civil rights statute, such as laws that prohibit the willful use of excessive
force or other acts of misconduct by law enforcement officials. In fiscal year 2006,
nearly 50 percent of the cases brought by the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights
Division involved such prosecutions. Since fiscal year 2001, the Division has
convicted 50 percent more defendants for excessive force and official misconduct
than in the preceding six years.

Assistant U.S. Attorney William Cohen for the Middle District of Tennessee and
Civil Rights Division attorneys Gerry Hogan and Jim Felte prosecuted this case for
the government.

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