A former Oklahoma supervisory corrections officer has been convicted for reportedly facilitating an assault on black inmates and ordering other abuse by white supremacists.
In an April 15 news release, the U.S. Department of Justice announced a former Kay County supervisory correctional officer in Oklahoma was sentenced by a federal jury in Oklahoma City for violating the civil rights of three pretrial inmates being held at the Kay County Detention Center.
"This high-ranking corrections official had a duty to ensure that the civil rights of pretrial detainees in his custody were not violated," said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, according to the release. "The defendant abused his power and authority by ordering subordinate corrections officers to violate the constitutional rights of several pretrial detainees. The Civil Rights Division will continue to hold corrections officials accountable when they violate the civil rights of detainees and inmates."
The jury convicted Matthew Ware, 53, of willfully depriving two pretrial detainees of their right to be free from a corrections officer’s intentional indifference to a substantial risk of serious harm and of knowingly depriving a third pretrial detainee of the right to be free from a corrections officer’s use of excessive force, according to the release.
"Criminal conduct by any corrections employee violates the public trust and unfairly tarnished the reputation of all corrections officials who honorably perform their important work each day," said U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma. "This verdict demonstrates our continuing commitment to protect the civil rights of all Oklahomans, including those in custody."
Ware faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $ 250,000 for each violation, the release reported.
"The preservation of civil rights and the investigation of color of law violations are of utmost priority for the FBI," said Ed Gray, special agent in charge of the FBI Oklahoma City field office. "If we don’t hold our very own law enforcement officials accountable, those sworn to protect and serve, what hope will the American people have? Mr. Ware’s actions were impermissible and undignified, particularly given his leadership role. His conviction is a prompt reminder that no one is above the law."
