Five former Mississippi sheriff’s deputies and an ex-cop pleaded guilty to charges related to the brutal torture of two Black man earlier this year. Unfortunately, their sentencing has been postponed so their attorneys could prepare.
Former Rankin County sheriff’s Deputies Brett McAlpin, Hunter Elward, Christian Dedmon, Jeffrey Middleton and Daniel Opdyke, and former Richland city police Officer Joshua Hartfield pleaded guilty to civil rights conspiracy, conspiracy to obstruct justice, deprivation of rights under color of law and obstruction of justice, according to an AP report. They also face sentences for state charges of home invasion, obstruction of justice, aggravated assault and conspiracy to hinder a prosecution.
The charges came from Jan. 24 when the group responded to a call concerning Michael Jenkins and Eddie Parker inside the home of a white woman, Jenkins’ friend. In the midst of the botched raid, Jenkins and Parker were beaten, called racial slurs, assaulted with sex toys and Jenkins was shot in the mouth by one of the officers.
Now, as soon we thought the so-called “Good Squad” was going to be put away for their actions, a judge pushed back their sentencing.
Read more from The AP:
Sentencing had been scheduled to begin Nov. 14, but U.S. District Judge Tom Lee wrote in a Friday order that the court would delay it in response to motions from some of the former officers. Their attorneys said they needed more time to evaluate pre-sentencing reports and prepare objections, the judge said.
Lee has not yet rescheduled the sentencing hearing, but some of the former officers requested it be delayed until Dec. 15.
The ex-cops got caught after one of them admitted to the sheriff that he submitted false reports about the incident which led to a domino of confessions from his colleagues, the report says. Upon their pleas, they agreed to the sentences recommended by the prosecutors which could get them anywhere between five and 30 years in prison.
On the other hand, Jenkins and Parkers are home free after being cleared of the false charges put against them after the officers planted drugs and a firearm in the home.