Former Fulton County Jail Detention Officer Pleads Guilty to Lying to Federal Grand Jury about Death of Inmate

DERONTAY ANTON LANGFORD, 34, of Fairburn, Georgia, a former detention officer at the Fulton County Jail, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Atlanta to obstructing justice by lying to a federal grand jury investigating the 2008 death of an inmate at the jail.

Acting United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said, “Although the circumstances surrounding Mr. Glasco’s death remain under investigation, this guilty plea brings us one step closer to learning the truth. Those who obstruct our efforts to learn the truth should expect to be prosecuted.”

Gregory Jones, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta, said, “Today’s guilty plea by former Detention Officer Langford should serve as reassurance to the public that the FBI is serious about getting to the truth and facts in an investigation such as this. It is unfortunate, to say the least, that former Detention Officer Langford set aside his sworn oath as a law enforcement officer and its underlying commitment to the truth in providing information in this investigation.”

Fulton County Sheriff Theodore “Ted” Jackson said, “Obstructing an official investigation by making false statements is never acceptable and should be prosecuted. I fully support the United States Attorney’s Office and the FBI’s investigation of alleged criminal activity in the Fulton County Jail and will continue the partnership with them.”

According to Acting United States Attorney Yates and information presented during the guilty plea hearing: LANGFORD acknowledged that he testified falsely before a federal grand jury on August 27, 2008 when he was questioned about the death of an inmate on March 18, 2008. LANGFORD admitted that during his testimony he falsified, concealed and omitted material information regarding an encounter and physical contact with the inmate a short time before the inmate was found unresponsive on the floor of his cell.

Court documents state that at the time of his death, the inmate was housed in the medical unit of the jail due to a mental health condition that required medication. Eyewitnesses have told federal authorities that three detention officers, including LANGFORD, entered the inmate’s cell and engaged in a physical altercation with the inmate. The inmate was on the floor when the officers left his cell. A short time later, the inmate was discovered unresponsive and not breathing on the cell floor and was transported to Grady Hospital. According to the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s report, the inmate’s cause of death was “probable disrhythmia associated with acute psychotic episode and agitation.”

LANGFORD is tentatively scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Court Judge J. Owen Forrester, on Thursday January 14, 2010, at 10:30 a.m. Langford faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.

LANGFORD’s co-defendants, Curtis Jerome Brown, Jr., and Mitnee Markette Jones are scheduled for a jury trial on October 13, 2009.

This case is being investigated by Special Agents of the FBI.

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Former Polk County Jail Sergeant Pleads Guilty to Federal Civil Rights Charges

JOSHUA DAVID LOWE, 25, of Aragon, Georgia, a former sergeant at the Polk County Jail, pleaded guilty August 6 in federal court to a civil rights charge of using excessive force against an inmate in his custody.

United States Attorney David E. Nahmias said, “We recognize that detention officers have a difficult job as they guard inmates in our jails and prisons. The vast majority of officers serve with honor and courage. But under no circumstances can we allow a detention officer to abuse his authority to commit an unnecessary and violent assault on an inmate. We are committed to investigating and prosecuting any law enforcement officer who engages in such criminal conduct.”

Gregory Jones, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta, said, “We would like to thank Polk County Sheriff Kelly McClendon and his administration for not only recognizing the seriousness of the crime committed by Detention Officer Lowe but also in bringing it to the attention of the FBI. It is this type of leadership within law enforcement that brings credit to the entire criminal justice system.”

Polk County Sheriff Kelly McClendon said, “We in law enforcement are held to a high standard. It is our duty and responsibility to ensure to the people we protect that whatever circumstances we face that our training and oath as law enforcement officers are held to the laws given to us by the Constitution of the United States and the State of Georgia.”

According to United States Attorney Nahmias and the information in court: LOWE admitted during the guilty plea hearing that he abused his authority as a law enforcement officer on February 7, 2009, when he unnecessarily and repeatedly struck an inmate in his head and face while the inmate was strapped in a restraint chair. LOWE agreed that his conduct resulted in bodily injury to the inmate and violated federal law and the constitutional right of the Polk County inmate not to be deprived of liberty without due process of law.

A number of LOWE's fellow detention officers witnessed the incident and came forward to report that LOWE had gone too far with his use of force against the inmate. One of the detention officers who witnessed the assault told federal authorities that he "saw blood everywhere" and that the inmate was “spewing blood” after he was attacked by LOWE. Another detention officer told an FBI agent that LOWE's assault on the inmate was unjustified and “horrible.”

LOWE is scheduled to be sentenced in Rome by Senior United States District Court Judge Robert L. Vining, Jr. on October 15, 2009, at 10:30 a.m. LOWE faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.

This case is being investigated by Special Agents of the FBI and the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

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