Chad Lester, a former lieutenant at the Southern Regional Jail in Beaver, West Virginia, has been sentenced to 17 years and six months in prison. This follows his conviction for obstruction of justice charges related to covering up an assault that led to the death of inmate Quantez Burks on March 1, 2022. In addition to his prison term, Lester will serve nine years of supervised release.
Lester was found guilty by a federal jury on January 27, 2025, of conspiracy to tamper with witnesses, witness tampering, and making false statements. The court heard how he threatened subordinate officers with violence and retaliation and instructed them to provide false information during investigations into the incident. He also personally gave false statements to internal investigators and FBI agents.
Seven correctional officers have pleaded guilty in connection with Burks's assault. Among them are Mark Holdren, Corey Snyder, and Johnathan Walters who admitted to conspiring to use unreasonable force resulting in Burks's death. Their sentencing is set for June 16, 2025. Ashley Toney and Jacob Boothe pleaded guilty to violating Burks’s civil rights by failing to intervene during the assault; they will be sentenced on June 9, 2025.
Steven Nicholas Wimmer was sentenced to nine years in prison on May 8, 2025. Andrew Fleshman also pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing on July 14, 2025.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon stated: “This defendant wrongfully decided to obstruct an investigation into a fatal assault of an inmate.” Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston added: “The defendant violated the public’s trust in the law enforcement system he had sworn to uphold.”
The case was investigated by the FBI Pittsburgh Field Office's Charleston Resident Agency and prosecuted by Deputy Chief Christine M. Siscaretti and Trial Attorney Tenette Smith from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division along with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed Lester's sentence.
