Sunday, May 19, 2024

Former Oklahoma Supervisory Correctional Officer Sentenced for Promoting White Supremacist Assault on Black Inmates and Ordering Other Abuse | OPA

A former supervisory correctional officer on the Kay County Detention Center (KCDC) was sentenced as we speak to 46 months in federal jail, adopted by three years of supervised launch, for violating the civil rights of three pretrial detainees held on the KCDC.

On April 15, 2022, a federal jury convicted Matthew Ware, 53, of willfully depriving two pretrial detainees of their proper to be free from a correctional officer’s deliberate indifference to a considerable threat of significant hurt and of willfully depriving a 3rd pretrial detainee of the fitting to be free from a correctional officer’s use of extreme power.

“This defendant is being held accountable for abusing his position of power and authority to, among other things, facilitate an attack carried out by white supremacists on a Black inmate,” stated Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This sentence handed down reflects the seriousness of the defendant’s actions and ensures accountability for his unlawful conduct. The Justice Department will continue to hold corrections officials accountable, including those in leadership positions, when they willfully violate the constitutional rights of detainees and inmates in their custody and control.”

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“A jury found that Mr. Ware abused his position of power over the individuals in his custody,” stated U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma. “Today’s sentence holds him accountable for that conduct. Mr. Ware violated the laws he was sworn to uphold, betrayed the public trust and dishonored the many brave corrections officials who lawfully perform their important work each day. My office remains committed to protecting the civil rights of all Oklahomans, including those in custody.”

“The defendant disregarded the civil rights of those under his care and ultimately used his position to inflict physical harm on multiple pretrial detainees,” stated Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “Today’s sentencing clearly shows the FBI will aggressively pursue any law enforcement officer who abuses their responsibility to protect and serve.”  

“The vast majority of the men and women working in correctional institutions do their jobs honorably on a daily basis. However, Mr. Ware’s disgraceful actions undermined the public’s trust and deprived the detainees of their civil rights under the U.S. Constitution,” stated Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray of the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. “Rest assured, the FBI will work tirelessly alongside our law enforcement partners to ensure the civil liberties of every American are protected.”

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According to court docket paperwork and the proof launched at trial, on May 18, 2017, Ware, whereas serving because the Lieutenant of the KCDC, ordered lower-ranking correctional officers to maneuver two Black pretrial detainees, D.W. and M.M., to a cell row housing white supremacist inmates whom Ware knew posed a hazard to D.W. and M.M. Later that very same day, Ware gave lower-ranking officers a second order: to unlock the jail cells of D.W. and M.M., and these of the white supremacist inmates on the identical time the next morning. When Ware’s orders have been adopted, the white supremacist inmates attacked D.W. and M.M., leading to bodily harm to each, together with a facial laceration to D.W. that required seven stitches to shut.

Court paperwork and proof launched at trial additionally revealed that, on Jan. 31, 2018, Ware, whereas serving because the Acting Captain of the KCDC, ordered lower-ranking correctional officers to restrain one other pretrial detainee, C.D., in a stretched-out place — with C.D.’s left wrist cuffed to the far-left facet of the bench and his proper wrist cuffed to the far-right facet of the bench — in retaliation for C.D. sending Ware a be aware that critiqued how Ware ran the KCDC. C.D. was left restrained on this place for 90 minutes, leading to bodily harm.

Assistant Attorney General Clarke, U.S. Attorney Troester, Assistant Director Quesada and Special Agent in Charge Gray made the announcement.

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The FBI Oklahoma City Field Office investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia Barry for the Western District of Oklahoma and Trial Attorney Laura Gilson of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.

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