jackson, mississippi
CNN
—
Brett McAlpin, the highest-ranking officer on the scene when six former Mississippi law enforcement officers tortured two Black men in January 2023, was sentenced Thursday to more than 27 years in prison.
Former Rankin County Sheriff's Office deputy described by prosecutors as 'decision-making man' and 'Mafia don' Six unscrupulous cops who tortured citizens, acts related to different times in Mississippi.
Mr. McAlpin pleaded guilty in August to federal charges of conspiracy to violate rights, deprivation of rights under color of law, conspiracy to obstruct justice and obstruction of justice in connection with the January 24 incident.
Mr. McAlpin also pleaded guilty in August to obstruction of justice and conspiracy to commit first-degree obstruction of justice. He is awaiting sentencing on state charges.
McAlpin addressed the court directly, his voice shaking, but he did not look at the victim.
“Eddie Parker and Michael Jenkins, I want you to know that I'm sorry for what you've been through,” he said. “I'm sorry to the family because I have three boys and I know it's going to be very difficult for them.” As for what happened to Michael and Eddie, it's the same thing you did. What happened was wrong. ”
Federal hearings in Jackson capped off three emotional days with graphic testimony of horrific atrocities committed by members of the self-styled “rogue squad” that captivated a packed courtroom.
McAlpin's attorney said the former officer was not directly involved in the assault or shooting, and noted that he was wearing civilian clothes the night of the incident and did not have a gun or a Taser. But the judge agreed with prosecutors and determined that because the former officer had decision-making authority and had recruited an accomplice, he was eligible for an enhanced sentence.
“Without McAlpin, there would be no 'Goon Squad,'” the prosecutor said.
Former Richland police officer Joshua Hartfield will be sentenced Thursday afternoon.
McAlpin hit one of the men with a piece of wood, threatened to kill the other officers if he told the truth about what happened, and Hartfield, one of the officers who taped the men while handcuffed, also destroyed evidence. I tried. The prosecutor said in this case.
Rogelio V. Solis/AP
Michael Corey Jenkins, left, and Eddie Terrell Parker walk toward the Thad Cochran U.S. Courthouse in Jackson, Mississippi, on Thursday.
Nightmarish depictions of racially motivated assaults, torture, sexual assault and even mock executions unfolded as victims faced their tormentors. Rogue former police officers are facing prison terms for what the FBI director described as a “brutal” act of “pure hell”.
A judge on Wednesday sentenced former Rankin County Sheriff's Deputy Christian Dedmon to 40 years in prison, his harshest sentence yet, for committing “the most shocking, cruel and cruel act imaginable.” was lowered.
Another former deputy, Daniel Opdyke, was sentenced earlier Wednesday to more than 17 years in prison.
Former Rankin County Sheriff's deputies Hunter Elward and Jeffrey Middleton were sentenced Tuesday. Elward, who shot Michael Jenkins in the mouth, was sentenced to 20 years in prison and made an emotional apology to his victims in court. Middleton was sentenced to 17 and a half years in prison.
In August, a total of six former police officers pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiracy to violate rights, deprivation of rights under color of law, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and obstruction of justice. Elward also pleaded guilty to discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
The men were part of a team of white law enforcement officers in Mississippi who raided Braxton's home without a warrant in January 2023 and yelled racist abuse at two black men, Eddie Parker and Jenkins. , used a Taser after he was already restrained. He handcuffed them, beat them with various objects and shot Mr. Jenkins in the mouth.
Officials said the former officers held the victims at gunpoint and left Jenkins bleeding on the floor as they planned a cover-up.
“This is a remarkable and historic moment for Mississippi, for the United States, and for victims of police brutality and police abuse,” Malik Shabazz, the victims' attorney, told reporters Wednesday.
In addition to the federal charges, the six defendants also pleaded guilty last year to a series of state charges related to the case and are awaiting sentencing.
Rogelio V. Solis/AP
Former Rankin County Delegate Christian Dedmon in Rankin County Circuit Court on August 14, 2023 in Brandon, Mississippi.
Shabazz described Dedmon as “oppressive” and “sick.” Federal prosecutors said Dedmon was the most sexually perverted of any former police officer and subjected his victims to the most egregious sexual acts.
Prosecutors said Dedmon, 29, organized and participated in “numerous missions” in which he “had no fear of using excessive force.” One prosecutor said that despite his relatively young age, Dedmon “had a history of not doing what he was supposed to do” and “hiding behind his badge and gun.”
“(Dedmon's) conduct was egregious, serious and illegal,” prosecutors said.
The disgraced former sub-inspector addressed the court before sentencing, but unlike his three previous ex-officers, he did not address the victim directly or make eye contact.
“The lie, the pain I caused them, I will never forgive myself. If I could take it all back, I would. I didn't go into law enforcement as a devil. No. I really wanted to make a difference,” Dedmon said.
“I've lived in Mississippi for 68 years and I've never seen justice like this,” Melvin Jenkins, Jenkins' father, said after Dedmon's sentencing. He thanked federal Judge Tom Lee, who said the prison sentence was “unprecedented” in this state.
Dedmon also pleaded guilty Wednesday to another charge, a federal charge of disenfranchisement and discharging a firearm in the name of law in furtherance of a violent crime related to a separate incident in December 2022. He was also sentenced for a crime.
In August, the U.S. Department of Justice said the 2022 charges stem from “an incident on December 4, 2022, in which Dedmon beat and taped a white man and fired a gun into his head to coerce a confession.” He said that
Rogelio V. Solis/AP
From top left: former Rankin County Sheriff's Deputy Hunter Elward, Christian Dedmon, Brett McAlpin, Jeffrey Middleton, Daniel Opdyke, and former Richland Police Department Joshua Hartfield.
Before being sentenced to 17 years in prison on Wednesday, Opdyke became visibly emotional, addressing the court and the victims directly, sobbing, wiping away tears and pausing throughout his statement to the victims. .
“I don't understand how I could have so easily aligned myself and actively participated in the use of excessive force against Mr. Parker and Mr. Jenkins,” Opdyke said. Then he turned to Parker. Parker was crying with his head between his legs.
“Nothing I say can undo the harm I caused you,” Opdyke told Parker during court testimony. “I can only accept full responsibility for my actions. I deeply regret all the pain and suffering I have caused you.”
Parker stood up in tears and walked out of the courtroom with his aunt.
The judge also ordered Opdyke to undergo mental health treatment, including anger management, as well as alcohol and drug treatment. The former deputy was also ordered to pay $79,500 in restitution to the victim.
Opdyke's lawyer argued for a seven-year sentence, citing extensive sexual and physical abuse that Opdyke suffered as a child at the hands of her father.
“He was abandoned by his parents and raped by his father until he was 8 years old. Daniel has no memory before the age of 8,” said one of Opdyke's lawyers.
Federal prosecutors said in court documents that at least some of the disgraced officers, including Elward, Middleton and Opdyke, were part of a group of lawmakers who called themselves the “goon squad” because of their willingness to use excessive force. .
During Wednesday's hearing, it was revealed that Opdyke was the police officer who turned over text messages from the Goon Squad group chat on the encrypted messaging service WhatsApp to the federal government on April 12, 2023.
Opdyke's lawyer said the information “substantially” aided the investigation and “directly contributed” to the decision to find his client guilty.
Shortly after Parker left the courtroom, the former police officer saw Jenkins and spoke directly to him, saying: Jenkins, I betrayed you too. I beat you and tried to force a sex toy into your mouth,” he said.
“I know you will never be the same after that night. I may have tried to stop you, but I couldn't,” he continued.
Jenkins stared ahead as Opdyke broke down in tears. He showed no emotion. The victim's lawyer put his arm around the victim.
Opdyke asked the victim for forgiveness.
“I sincerely regret my actions and I hope you can find a way in your heart to forgive me,” Opdyke said. “Mr. Jenkins and Mr. Parker were innocent victims and I was the perpetrator.”
The former lieutenant was shackled around his waist and wrists and walked away crying, his face red and bowed.
“An hour and a half of hell”
02:38 – Source: CNN
Why did the victim forgive a former police officer accused of torture?
Former Rankin County Sheriff's deputies Hunter Elward and Jeffrey Middleton were sentenced Tuesday.
Elward, who shot Mr Jenkins in the mouth, was sentenced to 20 years in prison and made an emotional apology to his victims in court. Middleton was sentenced to 17 and a half years in prison.
“Mr. Jenkins, I see you every day and every night. I'm so sorry,” Elward said.
“I don't know what you saw. I'm so sorry that I let that happen. I hate myself for it. I hate that I put it on you. I'm all I will be responsible for this.”
Jenkins nodded. Parker stood up and replied, “I forgive you, dude.”
But after the hearing, Jenkins told CNN that Elward's apology “meant nothing” to him.
During his sentencing, Middleton told the court he accepted responsibility for his actions.
“I made some very poor decisions that changed my life. They were morally and legally wrong,” he said, adding that he would like to express his condolences to Mr. Jenkins, Mr. Parker and his family, and his family. I apologized to the people of Rankin County. He was the supervisor on the night of the attack.
In a victim impact statement read by Shabazz, Parker said he did not believe Middleton was sorry.
Officers went to Braxton's home in January 2023 after a neighbor reported seeing several black men staying at the home of a white woman and suspicious behavior.
FBI Director Christopher Wray said that without a search warrant, officers “kicked in the door of a house where two black men were staying and subjected them to an hour and a half of hellish punishment.”
Federal prosecutors said Parker was a “long-time friend” of the white homeowner. He lived in her house and helped take care of her. Mr. Jenkins briefly lived in the house.
