Former Oklahoma Supervisory Corrections Officer Convicted for Facilitating White Supremacist Assault on Black Inmates and Ordering Other Abuse

A federal jury in Oklahoma Metropolis, Oklahoma, convicted a former Kay County Oklahoma supervisory corrections officer of violating the civil rights of three pretrial detainees held on the Kay County Detention Middle (KCDC). Assistant Lawyer Basic Kristen Clarke for the Justice Division’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Lawyer Robert Troester of the Western District of Oklahoma made the announcement.

The jury convicted Matthew Ware, 53, of willfully depriving two pretrial detainees of their proper to be free from a corrections officer’s deliberate indifference to a considerable threat of great hurt and of willfully depriving a 3rd pretrial detainee of the correct to be free from a corrections officer’s use of extreme pressure.

“This high-ranking corrections official had an obligation to make sure that the civil rights of pretrial detainees in his custody weren’t violated,” mentioned Assistant Lawyer Basic Kristen Clarke of the Justice Division’s Civil Rights Division. “The defendant abused his energy and authority by ordering subordinate corrections officers to violate the constitutional rights of a number of pretrial detainees. The Civil Rights Division will proceed to carry corrections officers accountable after they violate the civil rights of detainees and inmates.”

“Prison conduct by any corrections worker violates the general public belief and unfairly tarnishes the fame of all corrections officers who honorably carry out their vital work every day,” mentioned U.S. Lawyer Robert J. Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma. “This verdict demonstrates our persevering with dedication to guard the civil rights of all Oklahomans, together with these in custody. I commend the excellent work of Assistant U.S. Lawyer Julia Barry and Trial Lawyer Laura Gilson, who vigorously prosecuted this case, and the FBI Particular Brokers and different regulation enforcement officers who performed this investigation.”

“The preservation of civil rights and the investigation of coloration of regulation violations are of utmost precedence for the FBI,” mentioned Particular Agent in Cost Ed Grey of the FBI Oklahoma Metropolis Area Workplace. “If we don’t maintain our very personal regulation enforcement officers accountable, these sworn to guard and serve, what hope will the American individuals have? Mr. Ware’s actions have been impermissible and undignified, significantly given his management function. His conviction is a immediate reminder that nobody is above the regulation.”

The proof and testimony revealed that, on Could 18, 2017, whereas Ware served because the Lieutenant of the KCDC, he ordered lower-ranking corrections officers to maneuver two Black pretrial detainees, D’Angelo Wilson and Marcus Miller, to a cell row housing white supremacist inmates whom Ware knew posed a hazard to Wilson and Miller. Later that very same day, Ware gave lower-ranking officers a second order: to unlock the jail cells of Wilson and Miller, and people different white supremacist inmates on the identical time the next morning. When Ware’s orders have been adopted, the white supremacist inmates attacked Wilson and Miller, leading to bodily harm to each, together with a facial laceration to Wilson that required seven stitches to shut.

The proof and testimony additionally revealed that, on Jan. 31, 2018, whereas Ware served because the Appearing Captain of the KCDC, he ordered lower-ranking corrections officer to restrain one other pretrial detainee, Christopher Davis, in a stretched-out place — with Davis’ left wrist restrained to the far-left facet of the bench and his proper wrist restrained to the far-right facet of the bench — in retaliation for Davis sending Ware a word that criticized how Ware ran the KCDC. Davis was left restrained on this place for 90 minutes, leading to bodily harm.

Ware faces a most sentence of 10 years in jail, three years of supervised launch and a effective of as much as $ 250,000 for every violation. Sentencing will happen in roughly 90 days.

The case was investigated by the Oklahoma Metropolis FBI Area Workplace. Assistant U.S. Lawyer Julia Barry of the Western District of Oklahoma and Trial Lawyer Laura Gilson of the Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case.