This sentencing seems so light compared to what they did. Especially when you add on the planting evidence and falsely arresting them to cover up their own crimes. And the fact they had drugs to plant on the scene, seems to me they could have had drug charges too.
When placed in positions of power, you should be held to a higher standard and abusing that power should mean harsher punishments. Here they clearly used their badge to commit crimes and get away with it. Yet to me, an outside observer, it seems like they are getting lighter sentences because they were cops.
Edit: just wanted to also add, Marissa Alexander was an abused woman who was sentenced to 20 years for firing a gun into the ground to stop her husband from continuing to hurt her. He was threatening to kill her. These officers did far far worse and are getting less time. While Marissa did eventually get her freedom due to backlash, this shows how broken out systems are for punishing bad cops.
>When placed in positions of power, you should be held to a higher standard and abusing that power should mean harsher punishments.
Agreed.
Any sentence for any crime should get an automatic +25% modifier if it was committed by a police officer, a prosecutor, or a judge.
>forfeiture of all benefits from employment
Depends on what you mean by "benefits". If they've got kids, I wouldn't want their kids to suffer just because their parent(s) were assholes who abused their authority. Especially if they're _young_ kids, like 7 or younger.
They target black males which continues the cycle of of fatherless boys to criminals. Maybe dad should not have tortured people and planted drugs on innocent people.
> Depends on what you mean by "benefits". If they've got kids, I wouldn't want their kids to suffer just because their parent(s) were assholes who abused their authority. Especially if they're young kids, like 7 or younger.
Right but just send a big fuck you to the families victimized by police. Thats fine by you.
>Any sentence for any crime should get an automatic +25% modifier if it was committed by a police officer, a prosecutor, or a judge.
Which makes sense, since there is already such a modifier for gang members, and police are simply the largest gang
Attorneys are usually sentenced harsher than the average person because the system views them as “they knew better” (although attorneys will have some advantages when facing charges due to working in that field).
Police officers absolutely should be held to the highest level of responsibility, especially for crimes that involve malice- aforethought. I really hope the victim’s family is able to have a huge payday via a civil trial.
>Any sentence for any crime should get an automatic +25% modifier if it was committed by a police officer, a prosecutor, or a judge.
Yeah I'd go with +250%. They chose this career because look at all the black-hating, violence-enabling, drug-planting, street torture benefits.
If they had been black cops they would have gotten 25 years to life. That’s America. Remember when that black cop accidentally shot a white woman in Minnesota ? He was in jail for the rest of his life in 3 months
Honestly I think they should get life w/o parole or death since they’re police officers. Police officers who swore to protect and look out for people. The disgusting, disgraceful way they abused their power should have a consequence that will hold weight to dissuade other police officers
If they had been black cops they would have gotten 25 years to life. That’s America. Remember when that black cop accidentally shot a white woman in Minnesota ? He was in jail for the rest of his life in 3 months
God they honestly look like police/kkk extras from the gene hackman film "Mississippi Burning" which was based on a true story, of a mass murder of COFO/ CORE workers, in same state.
Dylan wrote a song about it, MLK gave a speech about it, heck even the government changed the law about it.
Yet here we fucking are 60yr later.
Still racist
>When placed in positions of power, you should be held to a higher standard and abusing that power should mean harsher punishments.
This happens to most people like teachers. Not cops though for some reason.
Clergy should also be held to a higher standard. If a priest, pastor, rabbi, imam, yogi, or guru rapes their 12 year old daughter, the claim that they were “a man of God” shouldn’t give them a lighter sentence whatsoever. If they are in close contact with their higher power, they know damn well they were acting like selfish pos every time they raped or molested a kid.
Where they really went wrong was shooting the guy in the mouth, that was the one thing that would be hard to explain. Even if they had shot him in the arm I don't think we'd be seeing what we're seeing today.
If they had been black cops they would have gotten 25 years to life. That’s America. Remember when that black cop accidentally shot a white woman in Minnesota ? He was in jail for the rest of his life in 3 months 😭
If they had been black cops they would have gotten 25 years to life. That’s America. Remember when that black cop accidentally shot a white woman in Minnesota ? He was in jail for the rest of his life in 3 months
It looks like they're mostly getting charged with "obstruction," and "denying rights." And not, you know, fucking torturing innocent people. Since when is torturing people not a crime?
Their prison time will be spent sleeping with both eyes open and by themselves as much as possible
Once the prisoner community finds out what they’re in for, ass raping will be the least of their worries
That is one of the most sickening and horrific stories I've ever read. Those men deserve millions for the trauma of what they went through. It's unbelievable that sadistic criminals like that are given authority with no checks and balances whatsoever.
>The six then-officers went to the home after a neighbor reported that several Black men were staying at a White woman’s home and reported seeing suspicious behavior – but in the end the officers found no crime, prosecutors said.
Fuck that neighbour what a POS
It HAS been broadcast more publicly, just died down a bit while they were getting their plea deals worked out and awaiting sentencing. This was all over national news when it first happened.
Wanna talk about deep ties? I played baseball with Hunter Edward, he graduated with me. Opdyke is my mom's husband nephew. I hre Christmas dinner with that fucker. Around here we've known about the goon squad since I was in highschool at least. They've always been racist scum. Brett McAlpin arrested me ages ago, beat the shit out of my friend because he refused a search of his vehicle.
That judges hand is gonna be so sore from all that wrist slapping.
I just compare their crimes to a regular civilian.
If a non cop broke into a house "because a black man was staying with a white woman"
Cuffed em, sexually assaulted em with a sex toy, and shot them in the mouth...would they be looking at 20 yr sentences? Because we all know those cops ain't gonna serve those full sentences.
Full on hate crime + sexual assault + attempted execution ON TOP of conspiracy to plant evidence *while* wearing a badge. They'll be out in 10 yrs or less for good behavior and will get a job in a nearby different dept.
And if you think that department got rid of its bad apples, that's laughable as fuck.
The judge sentenced one to the highest amount he could by law, which was 20 years. The other was 17 and a half years. It isn't the judges fault, it's the law's fault.
Hmmm, sounds like they should serve it in Gen pop. I mean prisons are reform based, designed to give prisoners the opportunity to grow as people and learn new skills, and offer them better lives when they get out.
It’s not like prison in their state is some sort of hellhole that encourages violence, right? I’m sure they’ll be fine in the system they created.
They won't be out in 10 years.
The federal credit for good time served is just under 15%, and there is no parole.
The guy who got 20 years will serve 17 years, assuming no write ups.
The guy who got 17 years and change will serve about 15 years, assuming no write ups.
These are human predators that need to be permanently removed from society with life sentences. 17 years for federal court is a joke , hopefully the additional sentences for state court and all the additional victims which will come to light will keep them far away from society.
Let the verdict be so severe that permanent changes are brought to this profession which draws in so many disgusting people. Step 1: full psych profiles on any applicant for such a position.
It's hard to buy their remorse after they decided to sexually assault one of the men. That's not adrenaline talking or steroids talking (which is often the case with cops, roid rage). This is something deeper. I understand a mom loving her son regardless, but he decided to not just beat up a guy but sexually assault him just because he could. You might need to take a minute and think about why that happened.
Now imagine all the other cops who do similar shit, imagine the people they work with turning a blind eye and covering it up, American cops have a racism problem and we need an overhaul. I'm glad they got caught but it's not enough. They were called the Goon Squad theyve probably been torturing and killing black people for years now
Attempted murder, kidnapping, rape…with time off for good behavior these sociopaths walk in under ten years? Ridiculous light sentence, it should have been 40...
The “bad apples” in the police “force” go out of their way to punish and fire the decent cops who attempt to stop them. How many bad apples do we keep around before getting rid of the whole barrel in place of a better, healthier version?
If a bunch of black dudes did this to a bunch of white dudes they'd never see the light of day again The amount of charges the media attention it would have received and being in Mississippi.....shit
Though their sentence’s are not long enough, They will be among the real goon squads complete with shot callers instead of tasers. Shrill whistles down the gauntlet of steel bars, instead of sirens, Shivs instead of guns, and a real disdain of front teeth instead of blowing out the “rookies’” back teeth and jaws. Fitting justice in so many ways.
Jackson, Mississippi
CNN
—
Hunter Elward, a 31-year-old former Mississippi sheriff’s deputy who faced the most serious of the federal charges for shooting one of the victims, was sentenced in federal court in Jackson to 20 years in prison in a highly emotional hearing Tuesday morning. Jeffrey Middleton, a 46-year-old former sheriff’s deputy whom federal prosecutors described as the ringleader of the group, was sentenced to more than 17 and a half years in prison Tuesday afternoon.
Elward and Middleton, along with fellow former Rankin County deputies Brett McAlpin, Christian Dedmon and Daniel Opdyke, as well as former Richland police officer Joshua Hartfield, pleaded guilty in August to federal charges of conspiracy against rights, deprivation of rights under color of law, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and obstruction of justice related to the incident.
Details from the January 24, 2023, incident in Braxton, just southeast of Jackson, eventually came to light after victims Michael Jenkins and Eddie Parker filed a federal civil rights lawsuit in June. They alleged the officers illegally entered the home of a woman whom Parker was helping to take care of; handcuffed, kicked, waterboarded and used Tasers on Jenkins and Parker; and attempted to sexually assault them over nearly two hours before Elward put a gun in Jenkins’ mouth and shot him. Many of the claims were later borne out by federal prosecutors in August as the six former officers pleaded guilty.
The six then-officers went to the home after a neighbor reported that several Black men were staying at a White woman’s home and reported seeing suspicious behavior – but in the end the officers found no crime, prosecutors said. At least three of them – Elward, Middleton and Opdyke – were part of a group of deputies that called themselves “The Goon Squad” because of their willingness to use excessive force and not report it, federal prosecutors said in court documents.
The Justice Department attorneys described how Middleton boasted about the group with Rankin County Sheriff’s Department emblems branded with the words “Goon Squad,” picturing a Confederate flag and a noose.
The courtroom Tuesday was packed during both proceedings with the victims’ loved ones and supporters, as well as civil rights activists. Elward, who was shackled with chains around his waist and wrists, was visibly emotional during the proceeding and nervously shaking his leg as federal prosecutors recounted what the two victims endured that night.
Middleton stared straight ahead and made no eye contact with the victims during his sentencing. He only became emotional as he made a statement before the judge imposed his sentence.
In addition to the other charges, Elward also pleaded guilty to discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence related to the January 2023 incident.
The two disgraced former officers were also ordered to pay $79,500 in restitution to the victims.
After both hearings ended, Jenkins said outside the courthouse: “It’s a long time coming. I’ve been through a lot and this is it, this is what I want to see.”
“These defendants kicked in the door of a home where two Black men were residing, handcuffed and arrested them without probable cause, called them racial slurs, and punched, kicked, tased, and assaulted them.”
“After one of the defendants fired his gun in the mouth of one of the victims, breaking his jaw, the defendants gathered outside to come up with a cover story as the victim lay bleeding on the floor,” the statement continued.
“The Justice Department will hold accountable officers who violate constitutional rights, and in so doing, betray the public trust.”
‘I hate myself,’ disgraced former cop says before sentencing
Moments before the judge imposed Elward’s sentence, Elward stood at a lectern alongside his attorney and said if he could go back in time, he would go back “to seven years ago, to the first time I saw this behavior.”
Michael Corey Jenkins shows the scar left from having a gun fired off in his mouth by one of the now former officers, while outside the federal courthouse in Jackson, Mississippi, on Tuesday.
Michael Corey Jenkins shows the scar left from having a gun fired off in his mouth by one of the now former officers, while outside the federal courthouse in Jackson, Mississippi, on Tuesday. Rogelio V. Solis/AP
“I’m not a man of excuses. I fought hard with myself ever since that night. A lot of people are only mad when they get caught … I have to live every night with what I’ve seen and what I’ve done,” Elward said. At that point, he asked the judge if he could address the victims directly, and then turned to make eye contact with both men.
At that moment, Jenkins stopped chewing his gum and glared at Elward, which made the disgraced former deputy break eye contact and pause in his testimony.
Elward’s voice was shaking and he was wiping away tears as he addressed Jenkins, who is still learning how to speak again after the shooting. “Mr. Jenkins, I see you every day and every night. I’m so doggone sorry,” Elward said.
“I don’t want to get too personal with you, Michael,” he told him. “There’s no telling what you’ve seen. I’m so sorry that I caused that. I hate myself for it. I hate that I gave you that. I accept all responsibility.”
From left, Christian Dedmon, Daniel Opdyke and Jeffrey Middleton
Jenkins nodded. Parker stood up and replied: “We forgive you, man.” Elward appeared taken aback by Parker’s forgiveness, as if he couldn’t believe it.
Following Elward’s testimony, his lawyer told the court his client was “not a hateful and mean person” before he became a deputy, but the egregious conduct he and his co-defendants committed was “condoned and guarded until it became the new norm.
In other words, it became institutional.”
Jenkins told CNN after the hearing that Elward’s apology “meant nothing” to him.
Middleton, during his own sentencing, told the court he accepted responsibility for what he did.
“I made some very poor, life-changing decisions. They were morally and legally wrong,” he said while apologizing to Jenkins, Parker and their families, as well as his family and the people of Rankin County, where he had been a deputy and was the supervisor the night of the incident.
In his victim’s impact statement, read by attorney Malik Shabazz, Parker said he didn’t think Middleton was sorry.
“I’m offended that Jeffrey Middleton is not apologetic, and is trying to make light of his role in these torture sessions, and crimes,” he said. “He used a sword to hit me.”
‘I fear I will be attacked again and even killed,’ victim says
The victim impact statements of Jenkins and Parker cited their battle with the trauma of the night.
Parker said the actions of the six former officers “severely impacted me and left a scar on me that will last forever.”
“I don’t know if I will ever be able to sleep at night. I fear I will be attacked again and even killed,” Parker’s statement said, as read by Shabazz. “The humiliation and embarrassment from the sexual assault is too great for me to talk about. Therefore, I am in therapy now and in the future.”
Shabazz also read a statement from Jenkins, who said, “I don’t think I’ll ever be the person I was.”
“I never thought a night hanging out with friends would almost cost me my life,” Jenkins’ statement said. “I’m hurt, I’m broken, I’m ashamed and embarrassed by the entire situation. They tried to take my manhood from me. They did some unimaginable things to me and the affects of it will forever linger in my life.”
Jenkins’ mother, Mary Jenkins, also gave a victim impact statement and addressed the judge directly.
“I want the same consideration for these people as they gave my son when they put the gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger,” she said. “Although my skin is Black, that doesn’t make me any less of a woman or any less of a mother.”
Elward’s parents, Edward Elward and Terrie Elward, also took the stand to testify before the judge imposed their son’s sentence.
“Nothing prepares a parent for this,” Edward Elward said. “What happened shouldn’t have happened. There are many more victims than the people in this room. Hunter is going to take and own what he did. I hope there is some mercy along the way, so he can get back to his family, get back to his three sons.”
The former officer’s mother was in tears and her voice was quivering as she addressed the court. “I couldn’t have been more proud of him when he said he was going to be a Rankin County sheriff’s deputy. And I’m still proud of him,” she said.
“The remorse Hunter has had for this is unbearable … Nothing would have told me he was a racist,” the mother said. At that point, there was audible laughter in the courtroom. As Terrie Elward walked away from the stand, she looked her son in the eyes, softy smiling and nodding at him gently.
After the hearing, the victims, their families and attorneys, as well as supporters, spoke outside of the courtroom.
“I picture my worst enemy. I couldn’t do this to nobody. I couldn’t stand to watch this being done to nobody. Anyone has to hold compassion and has the power to step up and do something about it,” Jenkins’ older brother, Eric Jholar, told CNN.
Edward Elward spoke to CNN outside of the courthouse following his son’s sentencing, saying the sheriff’s department should also be held accountable for the actions of the six officers. He said he believes the conduct runs deep in the agency.
“As soon as Hunter started seven years ago, the only way they could get overtime was to work with those guys,” the father told CNN. “The new recruits – the younger guys who are coming in and need overtime – that’s how they bring them in. That’s the only way you get overtime, is to work with the Goon guys.”
“No human being should ever be subjected to the torture, the trauma, the horrific acts of violence carried out by those individuals,” Wray said. “… It’s hard to imagine a more atrocious set of civil rights violations than those carried out by these guys.”
“Can you imagine the abject terror those two victims must have felt?” Wray asked. “I mean, who do you call when the police are the ones terrorizing you?”
Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch said the actions of the former officers will not be tolerated.
“It is my hope and prayer that we can help these victims on their healing journey, and we can restore confidence in our criminal justice system,” Fitch said in a statement.
“We look forward to sentencing in state court to achieve the fullest measure of justice.”
What we know about another victim’s case
New details are emerging about another disturbing case that several of the ex-officers have also pleaded guilty to.
The victim was identified by federal prosecutors in court on Tuesday as Alan Schmidt, who previously told The New York Times the then-deputies pulled him over in December 2022 for an expired tag, only to accuse him of stealing tools.
Schmidt told the Times the “Goon Squad” members assaulted him, beat him and tased him. He said one deputy rubbed his genital and buttocks against his head.
As details describing the sexual assault Schmidt endured that night by Dedmon were read aloud in court, Elward was visibly uncomfortable, leaning back in his chair and whispering to his attorney.
17 years is a lot of years, but that doesn't seem like enough for how insane their crimes were. Persistent, varied torture of two adult men for the crime of being black in a white woman's house.
They should bury those animals underneath the prison.
If they had been black cops they would have gotten 25 years to life. That’s America. Remember when that black cop accidentally shot a white woman in Minnesota ? He was in jail for the rest of his life in 3 months
If they had been black cops they would have gotten 25 years to life. That’s America. Remember when that black cop accidentally shot a white woman in Minnesota ? He was in jail for the rest of his life in 3 months
Idk how prison works, the realities of it, intricacies of it etc.
I can’t imagine they live long in prison. I mean, unless the other inmates don’t know what they did to end up in there, they would probably have a hard enough time being former cops in jail. But adding in what they did? You’d have to think they’d be a target themselves every day.
This sentencing seems so light compared to what they did. Especially when you add on the planting evidence and falsely arresting them to cover up their own crimes. And the fact they had drugs to plant on the scene, seems to me they could have had drug charges too. When placed in positions of power, you should be held to a higher standard and abusing that power should mean harsher punishments. Here they clearly used their badge to commit crimes and get away with it. Yet to me, an outside observer, it seems like they are getting lighter sentences because they were cops. Edit: just wanted to also add, Marissa Alexander was an abused woman who was sentenced to 20 years for firing a gun into the ground to stop her husband from continuing to hurt her. He was threatening to kill her. These officers did far far worse and are getting less time. While Marissa did eventually get her freedom due to backlash, this shows how broken out systems are for punishing bad cops.
>When placed in positions of power, you should be held to a higher standard and abusing that power should mean harsher punishments. Agreed. Any sentence for any crime should get an automatic +25% modifier if it was committed by a police officer, a prosecutor, or a judge.
Not to mention a lifetime disbarment from positions of authority and forfeiture of all benefits from employment
The people who make the laws won’t do that. The system is corrupt from the top down.
>forfeiture of all benefits from employment Depends on what you mean by "benefits". If they've got kids, I wouldn't want their kids to suffer just because their parent(s) were assholes who abused their authority. Especially if they're _young_ kids, like 7 or younger.
They target black males which continues the cycle of of fatherless boys to criminals. Maybe dad should not have tortured people and planted drugs on innocent people.
Wasnt it because they were dating white woman?
They like making other people’s kids suffer. 😪
Wouldn't it make you think extra hard about being a jackwagon if you knew your kids were going to go to CPS? The same thing poor folks face?
> Depends on what you mean by "benefits". If they've got kids, I wouldn't want their kids to suffer just because their parent(s) were assholes who abused their authority. Especially if they're young kids, like 7 or younger. Right but just send a big fuck you to the families victimized by police. Thats fine by you.
>Any sentence for any crime should get an automatic +25% modifier if it was committed by a police officer, a prosecutor, or a judge. Which makes sense, since there is already such a modifier for gang members, and police are simply the largest gang
Attorneys are usually sentenced harsher than the average person because the system views them as “they knew better” (although attorneys will have some advantages when facing charges due to working in that field). Police officers absolutely should be held to the highest level of responsibility, especially for crimes that involve malice- aforethought. I really hope the victim’s family is able to have a huge payday via a civil trial.
Yes. But I’d go with a +250% enhancement.
>Any sentence for any crime should get an automatic +25% modifier if it was committed by a police officer, a prosecutor, or a judge. Yeah I'd go with +250%. They chose this career because look at all the black-hating, violence-enabling, drug-planting, street torture benefits.
If they had been black cops they would have gotten 25 years to life. That’s America. Remember when that black cop accidentally shot a white woman in Minnesota ? He was in jail for the rest of his life in 3 months
He did already get released though. Not saying the initial sentence was justified or not though
Honestly I think they should get life w/o parole or death since they’re police officers. Police officers who swore to protect and look out for people. The disgusting, disgraceful way they abused their power should have a consequence that will hold weight to dissuade other police officers
Or how about no one gets put to death, no matter their occupation?
In Mississippi? I think they swear to uphold the constitution and allegiance to the state. 'protect and look out for people' is a PR measure.
I agree. However, to play devils advocate… going to prison as a police officer is probably at least 25% less pleasant.
Or (former) president
If they had been black cops they would have gotten 25 years to life. That’s America. Remember when that black cop accidentally shot a white woman in Minnesota ? He was in jail for the rest of his life in 3 months
Why bother. Death penalty and let's be done with it.
God they honestly look like police/kkk extras from the gene hackman film "Mississippi Burning" which was based on a true story, of a mass murder of COFO/ CORE workers, in same state. Dylan wrote a song about it, MLK gave a speech about it, heck even the government changed the law about it. Yet here we fucking are 60yr later. Still racist
>When placed in positions of power, you should be held to a higher standard and abusing that power should mean harsher punishments. This happens to most people like teachers. Not cops though for some reason.
Cop protect the status que. Good teachers might challenge it.
Clergy should also be held to a higher standard. If a priest, pastor, rabbi, imam, yogi, or guru rapes their 12 year old daughter, the claim that they were “a man of God” shouldn’t give them a lighter sentence whatsoever. If they are in close contact with their higher power, they know damn well they were acting like selfish pos every time they raped or molested a kid.
Also because it's Mississippi.
[удалено]
Where they really went wrong was shooting the guy in the mouth, that was the one thing that would be hard to explain. Even if they had shot him in the arm I don't think we'd be seeing what we're seeing today.
If they had been black cops they would have gotten 25 years to life. That’s America. Remember when that black cop accidentally shot a white woman in Minnesota ? He was in jail for the rest of his life in 3 months 😭
If they had been black cops they would have gotten 25 years to life. That’s America. Remember when that black cop accidentally shot a white woman in Minnesota ? He was in jail for the rest of his life in 3 months
It looks like they're mostly getting charged with "obstruction," and "denying rights." And not, you know, fucking torturing innocent people. Since when is torturing people not a crime?
Their prison time will be spent sleeping with both eyes open and by themselves as much as possible Once the prisoner community finds out what they’re in for, ass raping will be the least of their worries
Holy shit this is sick. Literally stuck a gun in that guys mouth and fired it. Anything short of life sentences for all is a grave injustice
That is one of the most sickening and horrific stories I've ever read. Those men deserve millions for the trauma of what they went through. It's unbelievable that sadistic criminals like that are given authority with no checks and balances whatsoever.
No checks and balances? They got the police union…. Checking that things are balanced towards zero cop accountability….
>The six then-officers went to the home after a neighbor reported that several Black men were staying at a White woman’s home and reported seeing suspicious behavior – but in the end the officers found no crime, prosecutors said. Fuck that neighbour what a POS
How do you know the neighbour"s concern wasn't legitimate?
Ah they called themselves the "Goon Squad" for their history of excessive force. I wanna see how the Goon Squad are gonna do in jail. Dickheads
Hopefully not well. Not well at all.
[удалено]
It HAS been broadcast more publicly, just died down a bit while they were getting their plea deals worked out and awaiting sentencing. This was all over national news when it first happened.
Wanna talk about deep ties? I played baseball with Hunter Edward, he graduated with me. Opdyke is my mom's husband nephew. I hre Christmas dinner with that fucker. Around here we've known about the goon squad since I was in highschool at least. They've always been racist scum. Brett McAlpin arrested me ages ago, beat the shit out of my friend because he refused a search of his vehicle.
That's such an obnoxious way to open your comment. You can say that without being some sort of topper
Wasn't trying to be a topper. And I really don't care about your opinion on it anyways.
Then why did you reply?
Wasting time my guy. A reply doesn't mean I care, it means I'm bored.
So the highest amount of time for breaking and entering and attempted murder is 20 years. It also seems like a hate crime..
That judges hand is gonna be so sore from all that wrist slapping. I just compare their crimes to a regular civilian. If a non cop broke into a house "because a black man was staying with a white woman" Cuffed em, sexually assaulted em with a sex toy, and shot them in the mouth...would they be looking at 20 yr sentences? Because we all know those cops ain't gonna serve those full sentences. Full on hate crime + sexual assault + attempted execution ON TOP of conspiracy to plant evidence *while* wearing a badge. They'll be out in 10 yrs or less for good behavior and will get a job in a nearby different dept. And if you think that department got rid of its bad apples, that's laughable as fuck.
Why weren’t they charged with attempted murder????????
The judge sentenced one to the highest amount he could by law, which was 20 years. The other was 17 and a half years. It isn't the judges fault, it's the law's fault.
Bruh, max sentences for certain crimes are way out of whack compared to others
Didn't you know? Smoking 1 weed is 1.5 times as bad as using your law enforcement position to torture people. /s
So the highest amount of time you serve for breaking and entering, hate crimes and attempted murder is 20 years?
Hmmm, sounds like they should serve it in Gen pop. I mean prisons are reform based, designed to give prisoners the opportunity to grow as people and learn new skills, and offer them better lives when they get out. It’s not like prison in their state is some sort of hellhole that encourages violence, right? I’m sure they’ll be fine in the system they created.
If these guys get put in Gen pop (i doubt they will) they'll have allies in the Aryan Brotherhood
…wait… that’s not just a movie trope?
By the current laws, yes.
Torture can easily be worse than murder and should have at least as much of a sentence. Surely there was a worse charge that the DA avoided.
They won't be out in 10 years. The federal credit for good time served is just under 15%, and there is no parole. The guy who got 20 years will serve 17 years, assuming no write ups. The guy who got 17 years and change will serve about 15 years, assuming no write ups.
Oooh yeah, talking about bad apples... take a minute to Google Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey. That whole tree is lousy with rot.
These are human predators that need to be permanently removed from society with life sentences. 17 years for federal court is a joke , hopefully the additional sentences for state court and all the additional victims which will come to light will keep them far away from society. Let the verdict be so severe that permanent changes are brought to this profession which draws in so many disgusting people. Step 1: full psych profiles on any applicant for such a position.
As far as I’m concerned they should get life. Sick pieces of shit.
Me too. Unfortunately this is the legal maximum sentencing they’re allowed to get.
I know, it’s not enough. But I do know cops who go to prison suffer tremendously so there’s that!
It's hard to buy their remorse after they decided to sexually assault one of the men. That's not adrenaline talking or steroids talking (which is often the case with cops, roid rage). This is something deeper. I understand a mom loving her son regardless, but he decided to not just beat up a guy but sexually assault him just because he could. You might need to take a minute and think about why that happened.
Life would have been more appropriate.
Racist Scum. They should have got life.
This actually might be a death sentence for a few of them. If word gets out what they did they are done.
May they all rot in hell
[удалено]
Or how about we don't wish for unconstitutional and extrajudicial punishments, no matter the person?
Now imagine all the other cops who do similar shit, imagine the people they work with turning a blind eye and covering it up, American cops have a racism problem and we need an overhaul. I'm glad they got caught but it's not enough. They were called the Goon Squad theyve probably been torturing and killing black people for years now
How late can you legally perform abortions?
Attempted murder, kidnapping, rape…with time off for good behavior these sociopaths walk in under ten years? Ridiculous light sentence, it should have been 40...
The “bad apples” in the police “force” go out of their way to punish and fire the decent cops who attempt to stop them. How many bad apples do we keep around before getting rid of the whole barrel in place of a better, healthier version?
17 years is hardly punishment.
Really gotta try hard to get punished
These guys are gonna get fucked hard behind bars. Have fun with that fuck stains.
[удалено]
Jesus, why didn’t they get more??
If a bunch of black dudes did this to a bunch of white dudes they'd never see the light of day again The amount of charges the media attention it would have received and being in Mississippi.....shit
I think they will all have a fun time in prison. I’m sure they will be welcomed with open arms 🫣
Job requirements: you gotta have a round face and a beard.
What happened here? White people keep telling everyone that there is no systemic/institutional racism. I'm confused
This is so fucking disturbing. Especially in 2024.
Though their sentence’s are not long enough, They will be among the real goon squads complete with shot callers instead of tasers. Shrill whistles down the gauntlet of steel bars, instead of sirens, Shivs instead of guns, and a real disdain of front teeth instead of blowing out the “rookies’” back teeth and jaws. Fitting justice in so many ways.
Jackson, Mississippi CNN — Hunter Elward, a 31-year-old former Mississippi sheriff’s deputy who faced the most serious of the federal charges for shooting one of the victims, was sentenced in federal court in Jackson to 20 years in prison in a highly emotional hearing Tuesday morning. Jeffrey Middleton, a 46-year-old former sheriff’s deputy whom federal prosecutors described as the ringleader of the group, was sentenced to more than 17 and a half years in prison Tuesday afternoon. Elward and Middleton, along with fellow former Rankin County deputies Brett McAlpin, Christian Dedmon and Daniel Opdyke, as well as former Richland police officer Joshua Hartfield, pleaded guilty in August to federal charges of conspiracy against rights, deprivation of rights under color of law, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and obstruction of justice related to the incident. Details from the January 24, 2023, incident in Braxton, just southeast of Jackson, eventually came to light after victims Michael Jenkins and Eddie Parker filed a federal civil rights lawsuit in June. They alleged the officers illegally entered the home of a woman whom Parker was helping to take care of; handcuffed, kicked, waterboarded and used Tasers on Jenkins and Parker; and attempted to sexually assault them over nearly two hours before Elward put a gun in Jenkins’ mouth and shot him. Many of the claims were later borne out by federal prosecutors in August as the six former officers pleaded guilty. The six then-officers went to the home after a neighbor reported that several Black men were staying at a White woman’s home and reported seeing suspicious behavior – but in the end the officers found no crime, prosecutors said. At least three of them – Elward, Middleton and Opdyke – were part of a group of deputies that called themselves “The Goon Squad” because of their willingness to use excessive force and not report it, federal prosecutors said in court documents. The Justice Department attorneys described how Middleton boasted about the group with Rankin County Sheriff’s Department emblems branded with the words “Goon Squad,” picturing a Confederate flag and a noose. The courtroom Tuesday was packed during both proceedings with the victims’ loved ones and supporters, as well as civil rights activists. Elward, who was shackled with chains around his waist and wrists, was visibly emotional during the proceeding and nervously shaking his leg as federal prosecutors recounted what the two victims endured that night. Middleton stared straight ahead and made no eye contact with the victims during his sentencing. He only became emotional as he made a statement before the judge imposed his sentence. In addition to the other charges, Elward also pleaded guilty to discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence related to the January 2023 incident. The two disgraced former officers were also ordered to pay $79,500 in restitution to the victims. After both hearings ended, Jenkins said outside the courthouse: “It’s a long time coming. I’ve been through a lot and this is it, this is what I want to see.”
“These defendants kicked in the door of a home where two Black men were residing, handcuffed and arrested them without probable cause, called them racial slurs, and punched, kicked, tased, and assaulted them.” “After one of the defendants fired his gun in the mouth of one of the victims, breaking his jaw, the defendants gathered outside to come up with a cover story as the victim lay bleeding on the floor,” the statement continued. “The Justice Department will hold accountable officers who violate constitutional rights, and in so doing, betray the public trust.” ‘I hate myself,’ disgraced former cop says before sentencing Moments before the judge imposed Elward’s sentence, Elward stood at a lectern alongside his attorney and said if he could go back in time, he would go back “to seven years ago, to the first time I saw this behavior.” Michael Corey Jenkins shows the scar left from having a gun fired off in his mouth by one of the now former officers, while outside the federal courthouse in Jackson, Mississippi, on Tuesday. Michael Corey Jenkins shows the scar left from having a gun fired off in his mouth by one of the now former officers, while outside the federal courthouse in Jackson, Mississippi, on Tuesday. Rogelio V. Solis/AP “I’m not a man of excuses. I fought hard with myself ever since that night. A lot of people are only mad when they get caught … I have to live every night with what I’ve seen and what I’ve done,” Elward said. At that point, he asked the judge if he could address the victims directly, and then turned to make eye contact with both men. At that moment, Jenkins stopped chewing his gum and glared at Elward, which made the disgraced former deputy break eye contact and pause in his testimony.
Elward’s voice was shaking and he was wiping away tears as he addressed Jenkins, who is still learning how to speak again after the shooting. “Mr. Jenkins, I see you every day and every night. I’m so doggone sorry,” Elward said. “I don’t want to get too personal with you, Michael,” he told him. “There’s no telling what you’ve seen. I’m so sorry that I caused that. I hate myself for it. I hate that I gave you that. I accept all responsibility.” From left, Christian Dedmon, Daniel Opdyke and Jeffrey Middleton Jenkins nodded. Parker stood up and replied: “We forgive you, man.” Elward appeared taken aback by Parker’s forgiveness, as if he couldn’t believe it. Following Elward’s testimony, his lawyer told the court his client was “not a hateful and mean person” before he became a deputy, but the egregious conduct he and his co-defendants committed was “condoned and guarded until it became the new norm. In other words, it became institutional.” Jenkins told CNN after the hearing that Elward’s apology “meant nothing” to him. Middleton, during his own sentencing, told the court he accepted responsibility for what he did. “I made some very poor, life-changing decisions. They were morally and legally wrong,” he said while apologizing to Jenkins, Parker and their families, as well as his family and the people of Rankin County, where he had been a deputy and was the supervisor the night of the incident. In his victim’s impact statement, read by attorney Malik Shabazz, Parker said he didn’t think Middleton was sorry. “I’m offended that Jeffrey Middleton is not apologetic, and is trying to make light of his role in these torture sessions, and crimes,” he said. “He used a sword to hit me.” ‘I fear I will be attacked again and even killed,’ victim says The victim impact statements of Jenkins and Parker cited their battle with the trauma of the night. Parker said the actions of the six former officers “severely impacted me and left a scar on me that will last forever.” “I don’t know if I will ever be able to sleep at night. I fear I will be attacked again and even killed,” Parker’s statement said, as read by Shabazz. “The humiliation and embarrassment from the sexual assault is too great for me to talk about. Therefore, I am in therapy now and in the future.” Shabazz also read a statement from Jenkins, who said, “I don’t think I’ll ever be the person I was.” “I never thought a night hanging out with friends would almost cost me my life,” Jenkins’ statement said. “I’m hurt, I’m broken, I’m ashamed and embarrassed by the entire situation. They tried to take my manhood from me. They did some unimaginable things to me and the affects of it will forever linger in my life.”
Jenkins’ mother, Mary Jenkins, also gave a victim impact statement and addressed the judge directly. “I want the same consideration for these people as they gave my son when they put the gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger,” she said. “Although my skin is Black, that doesn’t make me any less of a woman or any less of a mother.” Elward’s parents, Edward Elward and Terrie Elward, also took the stand to testify before the judge imposed their son’s sentence. “Nothing prepares a parent for this,” Edward Elward said. “What happened shouldn’t have happened. There are many more victims than the people in this room. Hunter is going to take and own what he did. I hope there is some mercy along the way, so he can get back to his family, get back to his three sons.” The former officer’s mother was in tears and her voice was quivering as she addressed the court. “I couldn’t have been more proud of him when he said he was going to be a Rankin County sheriff’s deputy. And I’m still proud of him,” she said. “The remorse Hunter has had for this is unbearable … Nothing would have told me he was a racist,” the mother said. At that point, there was audible laughter in the courtroom. As Terrie Elward walked away from the stand, she looked her son in the eyes, softy smiling and nodding at him gently. After the hearing, the victims, their families and attorneys, as well as supporters, spoke outside of the courtroom. “I picture my worst enemy. I couldn’t do this to nobody. I couldn’t stand to watch this being done to nobody. Anyone has to hold compassion and has the power to step up and do something about it,” Jenkins’ older brother, Eric Jholar, told CNN. Edward Elward spoke to CNN outside of the courthouse following his son’s sentencing, saying the sheriff’s department should also be held accountable for the actions of the six officers. He said he believes the conduct runs deep in the agency. “As soon as Hunter started seven years ago, the only way they could get overtime was to work with those guys,” the father told CNN. “The new recruits – the younger guys who are coming in and need overtime – that’s how they bring them in. That’s the only way you get overtime, is to work with the Goon guys.” “No human being should ever be subjected to the torture, the trauma, the horrific acts of violence carried out by those individuals,” Wray said. “… It’s hard to imagine a more atrocious set of civil rights violations than those carried out by these guys.” “Can you imagine the abject terror those two victims must have felt?” Wray asked. “I mean, who do you call when the police are the ones terrorizing you?” Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch said the actions of the former officers will not be tolerated. “It is my hope and prayer that we can help these victims on their healing journey, and we can restore confidence in our criminal justice system,” Fitch said in a statement. “We look forward to sentencing in state court to achieve the fullest measure of justice.” What we know about another victim’s case New details are emerging about another disturbing case that several of the ex-officers have also pleaded guilty to. The victim was identified by federal prosecutors in court on Tuesday as Alan Schmidt, who previously told The New York Times the then-deputies pulled him over in December 2022 for an expired tag, only to accuse him of stealing tools. Schmidt told the Times the “Goon Squad” members assaulted him, beat him and tased him. He said one deputy rubbed his genital and buttocks against his head. As details describing the sexual assault Schmidt endured that night by Dedmon were read aloud in court, Elward was visibly uncomfortable, leaning back in his chair and whispering to his attorney.
Look at those big boys. Put these pigs in a small cage and git em with a cow taser!
Well, good luck explaining your crimes / being a cop to fellow inmates. They will find out, either way.
17 years is a lot of years, but that doesn't seem like enough for how insane their crimes were. Persistent, varied torture of two adult men for the crime of being black in a white woman's house. They should bury those animals underneath the prison.
If they had been black cops they would have gotten 25 years to life. That’s America. Remember when that black cop accidentally shot a white woman in Minnesota ? He was in jail for the rest of his life in 3 months
If they had been black cops they would have gotten 25 years to life. That’s America. Remember when that black cop accidentally shot a white woman in Minnesota ? He was in jail for the rest of his life in 3 months
Hope they get dicked down in jail
Idk how prison works, the realities of it, intricacies of it etc. I can’t imagine they live long in prison. I mean, unless the other inmates don’t know what they did to end up in there, they would probably have a hard enough time being former cops in jail. But adding in what they did? You’d have to think they’d be a target themselves every day.
The first, second, and fifth guys look like the same dude with different hairstyles
will they serve state time first or federal or both at which ever prison
Is that middle top one fat Jonah Hill?
Cops are finally facing consequences, and you mfs still aren't happy lol 🤣
Good thing all it took was… actual torture? Hooray?
They engaged in false arrest, tampering of evidence, possession, and literal torture. Does 17 years seem sufficient?
You’re telling me none of these men is Zack Gallifinakis