FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CR

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2, 1995 (202) 616-2765

TDD (202) 514-1888

SEVEN TEXAS CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS INDICTED

FOR ABUSE OF PRISON INMATES

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Seven correctional officers who

allegedly beat prison inmates at an East Texas state
penitentiary, were indicted today, the Justice Department
announced.
The twenty-three count indictment, returned today in Tyler,
Texas, alleged that two supervisory officers, Captain Richard
Roy, and former Sergeant David Kersh, and four correctional
officers, Allen Cochran, Jeffrey Johnson, James Mayfield, and
Thomas Wade violated federal civil rights laws by beating prison
inmates, filing false reports against them, and preventing them
from obtaining appropriate medical treatment. The indictment
also charged Officer Jerry Leach with filing a false report and
with perjury before the grand jury.
The officers were all employed at the Michael Prison Unit, a
maximum security facility located in Anderson, Texas.
The indictment alleged that on nine occasions between
September, 1993 and June, 1994, the officers beat inmates without
provocation, often resulting in physical harm. Following the
beatings, the officers allegedly filed false reports about the
incidents which were presented in disciplinary hearings against
the inmates. Also, prisoners who were beaten were returned to
their cells instead of receiving needed medical treatment. The
papers further alleged that the supervisory officers were aware
of these violations and failed to stop them.
"Correctional officers are given the authority to keep our
nation's prisons safe and orderly," said Assistant Attorney
General for Civil Rights Deval L. Patrick. "We will not look the
other way when officers abuse their authority by violating the
rights of prisoners."
Count one charges all of the officers except Leach with
conspiring to violate the civil rights of the prisoners. Counts
two, four, six, seven, nine, twelve, fifteen, eighteen, and
twenty-one allege that the prisoners were assaulted by the
defendants. Counts three, five, eight, seventeen, and twenty
charge the defendants with knowingly submitting false evidence at
disciplinary hearings for the prisoners. Counts ten, thirteen,
sixteen, and nineteen charge that the supervisory correctional
officers took no steps to prevent these assaults from occurring.
Counts eleven, fourteen, and twenty-two charge the defendants
with preventing the prisoners from receiving proper medical care.
And, count twenty three charges Leach with perjury.
"This case demonstrates our strong commitment to protecting
the civil rights of all citizens," said Mike Bradford, U.S.
Attorney in Tyler. "Even those individuals who are incarcerated
in prison are protected from cruel or unusual punishment under
the law."
Roy, who is charged with four counts, faces a maximum
sentence of 22 years in prison and a $700,000 fine. Kersh, who
is charged with nine counts, faces a maximum sentence of 54 years
in prison and a $1,650,000 fine. Cochran, who is charged with
nine counts, faces a maximum sentence of 63 years in prison and a
$1,800,000 fine. Johnson, Mayfield, and Wade, all charged with
five counts, face a maximum sentence of 32 years in prison and a
$950,000 fine. Leach, who is charged with two counts, faces a
maximum sentence of 6 years in prison and a $350,000 fine.
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95-427