Fulton County Jailer Sentenced to Six Months on Federal Charges of Excessive Force

DENITA RENAE SHAW, 41, of Smyrna, Georgia, a former Fulton County Sheriff’s Detention Officer was sentenced June 24 by United States District Court Judge Owen J. Forrester to serve six months in federal prison on a felony charge of violating the civil rights of an inmate by using excessive force at the Fulton County Jail.

United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said, “This officer violated the Constitution and her oath of office when she assaulted a handcuffed inmate. For this reprehensible conduct, she will now walk in the shoes of her victim by becoming an inmate herself.”

Fulton County Sheriff Theodore Jackson said, “The preservation of an inmate's civil rights is vital to our legal system and while a person is being held at the Fulton County Jail it is crucial for detention officers to respect that. This type of behavior will not be tolerated and we will cooperate fully with federal authorities to punish offenders, no matter who they are.”

SHAW was sentenced to three months in prison, and three months of home confinement to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to perform 120 hours of community service. SHAW pleaded guilty to the charge on February 17, 2010.

According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges and other information presented in court: On January 26, 2009, SHAW, working as a detention officer at the Fulton County Jail, used excessive force when she struck a handcuffed inmate with a milk crate at the Fulton County Jail. SHAW was terminated as a result of the incident.

This case was investigated by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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Fulton County Jailer Pleads Guilty to Federal Charge of Excessive Force

DENITA RENAE SHAW, 41, of Smyrna, Georgia, a former Fulton County Sheriff’s Detention Officer, pleaded guilty today in federal court to a felony charge of violating civil rights by using excessive force against an inmate at the Fulton County Jail.

Acting United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said, “This officer violated the Constitution and her oath of office when she assaulted a handcuffed inmate. Now she faces the reality of becoming an inmate.”

FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Greg Jones said, “Today's guilty plea of former Fulton County Sheriff's Detention Officer Shaw demonstrates the commitment that the FBI has toward investigating and enforcing violations of civil rights laws. It is sad when those that violate these laws are within the law enforcement profession as it often can bring discredit to the entire profession thereby impairing or damaging the effectiveness of others within the profession.”

Fulton County Sheriff Ted Jackson said, “The inhumane treatment of persons in custody must cease. This case continues to show that excessive force and the disregard of policies and procedures at the Fulton County Jail will not be tolerated. When the civil rights of inmates are violated, we will pursue criminal charges and coordinate with federal authorities to prosecute the perpetrators to the fullest extent of the law.”

According to Acting United States Attorney Yates, the charges and other information presented in court: On January 26, 2009, SHAW, working as a detention officer at the Fulton County Jail, allegedly used excessive force when she struck a handcuffed inmate in the head with a milk crate at the Fulton County Jail. The indictment alleges that this assault violated the inmate’s constitutional right not to be deprived of liberty without due process of law. SHAW was terminated as a result of the incident. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $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.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 4, 2010, at 10:30 a.m, before United States District Judge J. Owen Forrester.

This case is being investigated by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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Former Fulton County Sheriff’s Deputy Convicted on Obstruction of Justice Charges Related to Federal Investigation of Inmate Death

MITNEE MARKETTE JONES, 46, of Atlanta, Georgia, a former Fulton County Sheriff’s Deputy assigned to work at the Fulton County Jail, was convicted by a federal jury late yesterday in Atlanta for her role in the obstruction of a federal investigation of a 2008 inmate death.

Acting United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said, “We’re still uncertain exactly why Mr. Glasco died, but this conviction brings us one step closer to learning the truth. Deputy Jones lied and covered up what happened in Mr. Glasco’s cell, and now she is being held accountable.”

Gregory Jones, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta, said, “The conviction of Fulton County Sheriff's Deputy/Jailer Mitnee Jones on charges related to lying to the FBI and providing false statements as part of a serious investigation into the death of a Fulton County jail inmate should serve as a message to others that the FBI expects full cooperation in such matters. For a sworn law enforcement officer to deliberately mislead a federal investigation is unconscionable, and the jury, with a returned verdict of guilty, agreed that it should not be tolerated.”

Fulton County Sheriff Ted Jackson said, “Sworn officers are expected to be honest and anything less will not be tolerated within the Fulton County Sheriff's Office. No one should turn a blind eye to the mistreatment of persons in custody. This conviction is further proof that we will hold staff members accountable for their actions while expecting all employees to promote high standards of professionalism for next generation of detention officers.”

According to Acting United States Attorney Yates and evidence presented during the trial: JONES and two co-workers—former Detention Officer DERONTAY LANGFORD and Detention Officer Chantae Taylor—filed false incident reports omitting that jail staff had entered the cell of Richard Glasco and engaged in a physical altercation with him a short time before Glasco was found unresponsive on the floor of his cell. According to eyewitness accounts, a group of officers including JONES, LANGFORD and former jail Security Specialist CURTIS BROWN, entered Glasco’s cell and used force to subdue Glasco because Glasco was being loud and banging on his cell door and window. Approximately an hour after the group entered the cell, Taylor and LANGFORD discovered Glasco unresponsive and not breathing on the cell floor. Glasco was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

After a three-day trial, the jury convicted JONES of: 1) filing a false incident report with the intent to hinder the federal investigation; 2) making a false material statement about the incident to a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and 3) obstruction of justice by making false statements to a federal grand jury investigating Glasco’s death.

JONES faces a maximum prison sentence of 20 years for filing the false incident report with the intent to hinder the federal investigation; five years for making a false material statement about the incident to the FBI; and 10 years for obstruction of justice by making false statements to a federal grand jury. JONES also faces a maximum fine of $250,000 on each count. 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.

JONES will be sentenced by United States District Court Judge J. Owen Forrester in April 2010.

LANGFORD, who testified against JONES, pleaded guilty on September 22, 2009, to obstruction of justice for his false testimony to a federal grand jury on August 27, 2008, when he was questioned about the death of Glasco. He is awaiting sentencing by Judge Forrester. BROWN, who faces similar federal charges, is awaiting trial. No trial date has yet been set. Taylor, who cooperated with the federal investigation from the beginning, has not been charged.

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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 Fulton County Jail Lieutenant Pleads Guilty to Using Excessive Force Against Inmate and Lying to FBI Agent

EARL GLENN, 47, of McDonough, Georgia, a former lieutenant at the Fulton County Jail, pleaded guilty August 25 in federal court in Atlanta to using excessive force against an inmate in his custody and to lying to an FBI agent about the incident.

Acting United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said, “The public deserves to put their trust and confidence in our community’s law enforcement officers, and honorable law enforcement officers deserve that trust and confidence. This former Lieutenant, who was a supervisor at the Fulton County Jail, betrayed and violated that trust and confidence by beating an inmate and lying about it to the FBI. Now he faces federal prison.”

Gregory Jones, FBI Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Office, said, “Law enforcement professionals, as part of their basic duties and responsibilities, are sworn to uphold the U.S. Constitution and its underlying principles of due process. Those serving in management roles are held to an even higher standard of ensuring that these oaths are followed and that civil liberties are protected. Not only did former Lt. Glenn fail do this, he obstructed the federal investigation looking into this matter. I would hope that others within the law enforcement community would take this as an opportunity to reflect on their own sworn oaths and to remember what it means.”

According to Acting United States Attorney Yates, the charges and the information presented during yesterday’s plea hearing: GLENN acknowledged that he abused his authority as a law enforcement officer on August 9, 2008, when he unnecessarily and repeatedly struck an inmate who was previously involved in an altercation with another detention officer. GLENN agreed that his conduct resulted in bodily injury to the inmate and violated federal law and the constitutional right of the Fulton County inmate not to be deprived of liberty without the due process of law. Two of GLENN’s fellow detention officers witnessed the incident and eventually reported to federal investigators that GLENN had used excessive force against the inmate. Additionally, GLENN admitted that he lied to a Special Agent with the FBI when he was interviewed about the incident on January 28, 2009.

GLENN is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Court Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr., on November 6, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. GLENN faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum fine of $500,000. 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.

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