Goon Squad Sentencing Hearings: Details and Updates

TFD – Stay informed with the latest developments on the Goon Squad sentencing hearings, as former law enforcement officers face justice for civil rights violations in Mississippi.

Six former Mississippi law enforcement officers who pleaded guilty to torturing two Black men will be sentenced this week, starting with two officers Tuesday and the others on Wednesday and Thursday.

Details of the January 24, 2023, incident in Braxton, just southeast of Jackson, came to light after the victims, Eddie Parker and Michael Jenkins – both of whom are Black – filed a federal civil rights lawsuit in June.

Federal prosecutors confirmed many of the allegations in August after the six former Mississippi policemen entered guilty pleas to a total of 13 charges related to the two men’s torture and abuse.

In connection with the incident, former officers of the Richland Police Department, Joshua Hartfield, Christian Dedmon, Daniel Opdyke, Hunter Elward, and Brett McAlpin entered guilty pleas to federal charges of conspiracy against rights, deprivation of rights under color of law, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and obstruction of justice.

Judge Tom Lee of the Southern District of Mississippi will sentence Elward first on Tuesday morning, and Middleton second on Tuesday afternoon. Hartfield and McAlpin will be sentenced on Thursday, and Dedmon and Opdyke on Wednesday. The policemen are being sought the maximum terms by federal prosecutors.

Elward is charged with the most serious offense related to the incident in 2023: firing a firearm during a violent crime. According to the charging papers, he might spend up to 30 years behind bars. Hartfield, McAlpin, Middleton, Dedmon, and Opdyke could all spend up to 20 years behind bars.

According to federal prosecutors, some of the officers dubbed themselves “The Goon Squad” because they were willing to use excessive force and not report it.

“The day of justice is at last here.”

Parker and Jenkins, their families and their attorneys told reporters Monday they hoped for the maximum sentences for all six officers, whose actions both victims say were motivated by their race.

“For the Rankin County ‘Goon Squad,’ the day of justice has finally arrived,” Parker and Jenkins’ main attorney Malik Shabazz declared. “It’s a significant day for accountability and against police brutality nationwide, not just for Mississippi.”

The case, which has many startling elements, comes at a time when police use of force is still being investigated nationally, especially when it comes to persons of color.

Jenkins and Parker claimed in their lawsuit that the deputies broke into their home, tried to sexually attack them, then shackled, stomped, waterboarded, and tased them for almost two hours before one of them shot Jenkins in the mouth.

According to the lawsuit, the deputies “were oppressive and hateful against their African-American victims in their repeated use of racial slurs in the course of their violent acts.” “The race and skin color of the people the defendants attacked served as their motivation.”

At the press conference on Monday, Shabazz stated that their civil rights lawsuit is still pending and that the issues raised by the case “have not been resolved.”

According to the Justice Department, three of the officers—Dedmon, Elward, and Opdyke—also entered guilty pleas in federal court to offenses connected to an unrelated event that occurred in December 2022. This week, they will also receive sentences for those charges.

The six former cops also entered guilty pleas to state crimes related to the event that occurred in January 2023, and they are currently awaiting sentencing on those counts. According to the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, each was accused of plotting to impede justice.

Elward was charged with both house invasion and aggravated assault, and Dedmon was charged with both as well. First-degree obstruction of justice charges were also brought against McAlpin, Middleton, Opdyke, and Hartfield. They await sentencing on the state charges.

What is known regarding the case of the other victim

In court documents, “A.S.” is identified as the subject of a second incident in which three of the former deputies have entered guilty pleas.

The New York Times, which spoke with Alan Schmidt, has revealed the identity of the victim. Schmidt revealed to the Times that in December 2022, he was pulled over by the then-deputies for an expired tag, but they then accused him of tool theft.

Schmidt claimed to the Times that he was beaten, tased, and attacked by the members of the “Goon Squad.” He claimed that a deputy had pressed his buttocks and genitalia against his head.

Christian Dedmon, Elward, and Opdyke, the three former cops charged in Schmidt’s case, have all entered guilty pleas to deprivation of rights under color of law. In July of last year, they entered plea deals.

In response to two more accusations stemming from the event, Dedmon entered a plea to one count of deprivation of rights and another charge of firing a firearm during a violent crime.

According to court records, the maximum term for the deprivation of rights offense is ten years. The minimum punishment for the guns charge is ten years.

“Dedmon discharged a firearm in close proximity to A.S. with the intention of scaring and coercing a confession,” according to court documents that CNN examined.

According to the Times, Schmidt is scheduled to make a statement during the “Goon Squad” sentencing hearings.