A federal judge has handed down prison terms ranging from about 10 to 40 years to six white former Mississippi law enforcement officers who pleaded guilty to breaking into a home without a warrant and torturing two Black men in a horrific attack. The incident involved beatings, stun gun use, assaults with a sex toy, and a victim being shot in the mouth.
U.S. District Judge Tom Lee condemned the actions of the culprits as 'egregious and despicable' and imposed sentences near the top of federal guidelines for five of the six men involved in the attack on Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker in January 2023.
The case garnered national attention and drew criticism from top law enforcement officials, including Attorney General Merrick Garland. The brutal nature of the crimes committed by the defendants was highlighted by Garland, who described them as depraved.
The former officers, including Brett McAlpin, received significant prison terms, with McAlpin expressing remorse for his involvement in the incident. McAlpin, who was a high-ranking officer in the Rankin County Sheriff's Office, acknowledged the wrongdoing and apologized for tarnishing the image of law enforcement.
One of the defendants, Joshua Hartfield, received a 10-year sentence as he was not part of the main group involved in the attack but failed to intervene and participated in a cover-up. The other former officers received sentences ranging from 17.5 to 40 years.
The investigation revealed a pattern of violence against Black men by some of the deputies, with false charges being fabricated and a cover-up attempted. The officers resorted to racial slurs, physical abuse, and threats during the attack on Jenkins and Parker.
The judge highlighted the role of McAlpin in influencing the younger deputies and creating a toxic environment that led to the heinous acts committed against the victims. The incident, which began with a racist call for violence, exposed a culture of corruption within the sheriff's office.
The victims, Jenkins and Parker, expressed their trauma and called for accountability within the law enforcement agency. They filed a civil lawsuit against the department and demanded changes to prevent such atrocities from happening again.
The sentencing of the former officers serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of abusing power and perpetrating acts of violence. The judge's decision sends a strong message that such behavior will not be tolerated, and those responsible will face severe penalties.
