Michael Jenkins : Mississippi officers sentenced for torturing Black men

Accident – Death – Obituary News : : 1. Mississippi police brutality sentencing
2. Black men torture case sentencing in Mississippi

Six former Mississippi law enforcement officers who pleaded guilty to state and federal charges stemming from the torture and abuse of two Black men are set to be sentenced this week. The officers, known as “The Goon Squad,” pleaded guilty to charges including deprivation of rights and obstruction of justice. The incident occurred in January 2023, leading to a federal lawsuit. Federal prosecutors are seeking maximum sentences for the officers. Three of them also face additional charges from a separate incident. The victims, Michael Jenkins and Eddie Parker, will testify during the proceedings. The officers’ actions involved racial slurs and violent acts, resulting in serious injuries to the victims.

Six former Mississippi law enforcement officers are set to be sentenced in federal court this week for their involvement in the torture and abuse of two Black men, one of whom was shot in the mouth. The former officers, known as “The Goon Squad,” pleaded guilty to various charges in August, including conspiracy against rights and obstruction of justice. The incident took place on Jan. 24, 2023, in Braxton, Mississippi, just southeast of Jackson, and came to light after the victims, Michael Jenkins and Eddie Parker, filed a federal lawsuit seeking $400 million in damages.

Federal Sentencing Proceedings

The sentencing proceedings will take place over three days, with Elward and Middleton to be sentenced on Tuesday, Dedmon and Opdyke on Wednesday, and Hartfield and McAlpin on Thursday. Jenkins and Parker, along with their attorney Malik Shabazz, are expected to speak at a news conference ahead of the proceedings and testify during the sentencing.

Additional Charges in Separate Incident

Three of the officers, Dedmon, Elward, and Opdyke, also pleaded guilty to additional felonies related to a separate incident in December 2022, where Dedmon beat and tased a man and fired a gun near his head to coerce a confession. The officers face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the deprivation of rights charges, with Dedmon facing a maximum sentence of life in prison on the weapons charge.

State Charges and Cover Story

In addition to federal charges, the former officers also pleaded guilty to state charges stemming from the same incident in January 2023. Each officer faces charges of conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice, with Dedmon and Elward facing additional charges of home invasion and aggravated assault. The officers concocted a cover story to hide the abuse and shooting, destroying evidence and filing false reports to corroborate their version of events.

Details of the Abuse and Shooting

Jenkins and Parker detailed how the officers entered their home, handcuffed, kicked, and tased them, and attempted to sexually assault them over a two-hour period. The abuse culminated in Jenkins being shot in the mouth, resulting in severe injuries. The officers used racial slurs during the violent acts and devised a cover story to conceal their actions.

Response and Legal Proceedings

The victims, along with their attorney, have expressed their commitment to seeking justice and holding the former officers accountable for their actions. Federal prosecutors are seeking the maximum sentences for the six officers involved in the heinous incident. The legal proceedings aim to bring closure to Jenkins and Parker and ensure that such acts of racial intimidation and abuse are not tolerated under the law.

As the sentencing hearings unfold, the community awaits the outcome of the case, hoping for a just resolution that reflects the severity of the crimes committed by the former law enforcement officers.