Two corrections officers have agreed to plead guilty to federal charges in connection with the death of a mentally ill man who froze to death, bringing the total number of jail employees who have entered plea agreements to eight.
Federal court records filed recently show that Daniel Lee Allen Brown will plead guilty to a federal charge of deprivation of civil rights under color of law, while Megan Johnson will plead guilty to a federal charge of criminal conspiracy to deprive an inmate of their rights. Both Brown and Johnson were corrections officers at Walker County Jail during the two-week period when Tony Mitchell was incarcerated.
The plea agreements highlight a culture of retaliation against incarcerated individuals previously accused of violence towards law enforcement. Five other corrections officers and one nurse contracted by the jail have also pleaded guilty to federal charges related to Mitchell's death.
Tony Mitchell, 33, passed away on January 26, 2023, with hypothermia and sepsis from medical neglect listed as the causes of death on his certificate. Mitchell, who had been exhibiting signs of disorientation and distress upon arrival at the jail, was held in a concrete cell without basic amenities such as bedding, a bathroom, or running water.
Johnson falsely claimed that Mitchell was too combative for medical attention and prevented a nurse from accessing him. She admitted that her mischaracterization of Mitchell was an excuse to mistreat him. Johnson also recounted instances where excessive force was encouraged by jail leadership to assert dominance over inmates.
In a separate plea deal, Brown expressed concerns about Mitchell's conditions to a superior at the jail, who then informed the shift captain. Despite this, Brown failed to take reasonable steps to save Mitchell, allowing him to suffer under inhumane conditions.
Both defendants are scheduled to be arraigned in mid-December.
