2 Georgia Correctional Officers Indicted for Civil Rights, Associated Offenses for Assaulting Inmates

A federal grand jury in Macon, Georgia recently filed a 4-point indictment against former Supervisor Sergeant Patrick Sharpe, 29, and former Correctional Officer Jamal Scott, 33, of Valdosta State Prison (VSP) for their roles in the application excessive violence filed against inmates detained at the facility.

In the indictment, Sharpe and Scott are accused of conspiring to attack and of supporting and violating each other in the attack by inmate FG, which is contrary to 18 USC § 241 (conspiracy against rights) and 18 USC § 242 (deprivation of rights due to the color of the law). Specifically, the indictment charged that Sharpe ordered Scott and another correctional officer named Brian Ford to attack inmate FG on December 29, 2018, even though FG was handcuffed and compliant. In response, Scott and Ford hit FG multiple times, causing FG to be assaulted. Brian Ford pleaded guilty on November 9, 2020 for depriving FG of its civil rights.

The indictment also charges that Sharpe assaulted inmate MB on September 24, 2018 by handcuffing MB in the face and head in violation of 18 USC § 242, and then to Special Agents made false statements to the FBI about his conduct in violation of 18. USC § 1001.

The maximum penalty for violating rights and conspiracy offenses is 10 years in prison, and the maximum penalty for misrepresentation offenses is five years in prison.

An indictment is just an accusation and the accused are presumed innocent unless they are guilty.

The FBI conducted the investigation. Trial Attorneys Katherine G. DeVar and Nicole Raspa of the Department of Civil Rights at the Department of Justice are following the case with the assistance of Chief Detective Michael Solis of the US Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia.