Shaunacy Edmonds, 36, of Muncie, was sentenced on Jul. 30 to five months in federal prison and two years of supervised release after pleading guilty to deprivation of rights under color of law. Edmonds had served as a sergeant and correctional officer at the Pendleton Correctional Facility since August 2020.
According to court documents, on March 14, 2024, inmate E.C. was removed from his cell after attempting self-harm and transported by the Indiana Department of Correction Quick Response Team to the prison infirmary. While being evaluated by nurses and threatening to spit on officers, Edmonds placed a spit mask over E.C.’s face. Surveillance video showed that when E.C. turned his head toward Edmonds, the sergeant lifted him and slammed him onto the floor headfirst before driving his knee into E.C.’s head. As other officers intervened, Edmonds delivered six closed-fist strikes to E.C.’s head while the inmate remained handcuffed, until a lieutenant ordered him to stop.
E.C., who suffered a swollen lip and cut forehead as a result of these actions, was later moved for further medical attention. Edmonds admitted that slamming a handcuffed inmate onto his head was unjustified and inconsistent with use-of-force training provided by the Indiana Department of Correction.
The incident prompted immediate action; following submission of his incident report, Edmonds was escorted out by a supervisor and subsequently terminated from employment at Pendleton Correctional Facility. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated with assistance from state corrections officials. U.S. District Judge James R. Sweeney II imposed the sentence.
“When a corrections officer takes the law into their own hands and inflicts punitive, excessive force on an inmate, they don’t just endanger that individual, they undermine the safety and integrity of the entire facility. This kind of conduct escalates tension, encourages resistance rather than cooperation, and puts fellow officers at greater risk,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Sgt. Edmonds’ actions were not only reckless and cruel but a blatant betrayal of IDOC training and standards. This sentence sends a clear message: such abuse of authority will not be tolerated.”
“Every person, regardless of where they are, is entitled to the protections guaranteed by the Constitution,” said Special Agent in Charge Timothy O’Malley of FBI Indianapolis Field Office.
The U.S Attorney’s Office for Southern District prosecutes federal crimes across sixty counties divided into four divisions in southern Indiana; it maintains offices in Evansville alongside its Indianapolis headquarters; collaborates with law enforcement agencies; serves as chief federal law enforcement office under U.S Department Of Justice; defends United States in court proceedings, all according to the official website.