Former Mississippi Officers Sentenced to Decades in Prison for Racially Motivated Crimes

On Wednesday, six former white Mississippi law enforcement officers received lengthy prison sentences after pleading guilty to state charges connected to the racially motivated torture, sexual assault, and shooting of two Black men in January 2023, as well as their subsequent efforts to conceal their crimes.

The Sentencing

The group of officers comprised five former Rankin County sheriff's deputies - Christian Dedmon, Hunter Elward, Brett McAlpin, Jeffrey Middleton, and Daniel Opdyke - and former Richland police officer Joshua Hartfield. These sheriff's deputies had formed the "Goon Squad," known for their readiness to utilize excessive force, as per the U.S. Department of Justice.

McAlpin, Middleton, and Opdyke each received 15 years for hindering prosecution and five years for conspiracy to commit hindering prosecution. Hartfield was sentenced to 10 years for hindering prosecution and five years for conspiracy to hinder prosecution. Dedmon was sentenced to 20 years for burglary and five years for conspiracy to commit hindering prosecution, while Elward was sentenced to 20 years for aggravated assault, 20 years for burglary, and five years for conspiracy to commit hindering prosecution.

Previous Pleas and Federal Court Sentences

According to the office of Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Finch, the six former officers pleaded guilty in a Rankin County Circuit Court on Aug. 14, 2023, to aggravated assault, home invasion, obstruction of justice/hindering prosecution in the first degree, and conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice.

This state sentencing followed the officers' guilty pleas to 16 felony charges in federal court last August, for which they received federal prison sentences ranging from 10 to 40 years in March. They will serve the federal and state sentences concurrently.

Accountability and Consequences

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland highlighted the severity of the crimes committed by the defendants, stating that they would spend between 10 and 40 years in prison for their attack on citizens they had sworn to protect. He emphasized that officers who violate constitutional rights will be held accountable by the Justice Department for their crimes.

Details of the Crimes

In their guilty pleas, the former officers confessed to unlawfully entering a home where the victims were staying without a warrant based on a report from a white neighbor. They then proceeded to arrest the victims without probable cause, subjected them to physical and sexual abuse, and shockingly, shot one of the men in the mouth.

Furthermore, the victims faced false charges for months due to the officers' attempt to cover up their actions by tampering with and planting evidence, including drugs and a gun.

Reaction and Ongoing Legal Action

Following the incident, the Department of Justice initiated an investigation in February 2023, accompanied by the FBI, while the victims’ attorneys pursued a $400 million federal lawsuit. This lawsuit is still in court, with the attorneys continuing to fight for justice.

In response to the initial complaint, the officers denied the allegations brought against them. Attorney Malik Shabazz, representing the victims, highlighted the importance of the state sentencing in holding the officers accountable and addressing historical racial crimes and police brutality in Mississippi.