One of 6 ex-Mississippi officers gets over 17 years for torturing 2 Black men
Daniel Opdyke, a former Mississippi officer, received a sentence of over 17 years from a federal judge on Wednesday for his role in the torture of two Black men.
Daniel Opdyke, one of six former Mississippi law enforcement officers involved in the torture of two Black men, was sentenced to over 17 years in prison by a federal judge on Wednesday afternoon. He used to work as a deputy with the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office and pleaded guilty in August to various federal charges related to the incident on January 24.
For nearly two hours, a group of White Mississippi law enforcement officers entered a home without a warrant, verbally attacked two Black residents with racist language, used a taser on them even after they were already in handcuffs, physically assaulted them with various objects, and shot one of them in the mouth. This victim was left bleeding while the officers planted a gun on them and concocted a false story to cover up their actions.
Now, one after another, these former officers are facing consequences for their actions, which the FBI director strongly condemned as "atrocious" and causing "pure hell."
Another defendant, former Rankin County sheriff’s deputy Christian Dedmon, will be sentenced in federal court Wednesday afternoon after pleading guilty in connection with the assaults.
Two other former Rankin County sheriff’s deputies, Hunter Elward and Jeffrey Middleton, received their sentences on Tuesday. Elward, who shot Jenkins in the mouth, was sentenced to 20 years in prison and expressed remorse to the victims in court. Middleton was sentenced to 17 1/2 years in prison.
This combination of photos shows, from top left, former Rankin County sheriff's deputies Hunter Elward, Christian Dedmon, Brett McAlpin, Jeffrey Middleton, Daniel Opdyke and former Richland police officer Joshua Hartfield appearing at the Rankin County Circuit Court in Brandon, Miss., Aug. 14, 2023.
Here are photos of former Rankin County sheriff's deputies Hunter Elward, Christian Dedmon, Brett McAlpin, Jeffrey Middleton, Daniel Opdyke, and former Richland police officer Joshua Hartfield appearing at the Rankin County Circuit Court in Brandon, Mississippi on August 14, 2023.
Rogelio V. Solis/AP
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Two former law enforcement officers, Joshua Hartfield and Brett McAlpin, who were leaders in the 'Goon Squad', have been convicted for torturing two Black men. They are set to be sentenced on Thursday.
Three of the disgraced officers - Elward, Middleton, and Opdyke - were members of a deputy group known as "The Goon Squad" for their use of excessive force without reporting it, according to federal prosecutors. All three deputies have either resigned or been terminated.
In August, all six former officers admitted guilt to federal charges including conspiracy against rights, deprivation of rights under color of law, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and obstruction of justice tied to the event.
The defendants not only have federal charges against them but also a number of state charges.
FBI Director Christopher Wray expressed his shock at the actions of six White law enforcement officers, describing their crimes as absolutely unspeakable. He stated that it is difficult to comprehend a more atrocious set of civil rights violations than those committed by these individuals.
The officers visited a home in Braxton in January 2023. They were responding to a report from a neighbor who claimed to have seen several Black men staying at a White woman's house and engaging in suspicious activities.
On January 24th, six law enforcement officers entered a home without a search warrant. The FBI director stated that they forcefully entered the home where two Black men were staying, subjecting them to a terrifying ordeal lasting an hour and a half.
FILE - Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey, right, speaks to an attendee at an employer engagement forum in Jackson, Miss., Nov. 4, 2021. Bailey, the Mississippi sheriff who leads the department where former deputies pleaded guilty to a long list of state and federal charges for the racist torture of two Black men has asked a federal court to dismiss a civil lawsuit against him, Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey was seen speaking to an attendee at an employer engagement forum in Jackson, Mississippi on November 4, 2021. Bailey, who heads the Mississippi sheriff's department where former deputies admitted to committing numerous state and federal offenses related to the racist torture of two Black men, recently filed a request with a federal court to have a civil lawsuit against him dismissed on Friday, October 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
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Parker was a close friend of the White homeowner and was assisting her with care, according to federal prosecutors. Jenkins, on the other hand, was staying at the home temporarily.
The six officers had no valid reason to suspect either man of any wrongdoing. Despite this, they proceeded to handcuff and arrest the men, physically assaulting them with kicks and beatings, using racial slurs, and even forcing them to strip naked. Additionally, they subjected them to tasings a total of 17 times and fired their guns in an attempt to intimidate them, as stated by Wray.
The FBI director shared that the individuals involved in the incident were not satisfied with their initial actions. One of them proposed the idea of simulating an execution. To carry out this plan, he unloaded a bullet from the gun without anyone noticing. He then placed the gun barrel in the mouth of a victim and pulled the trigger, causing the gun to dry-fire.
During a second attempt at the mock execution, the gun unexpectedly fired a bullet into the victim's mouth. The bullet resulted in severe injuries, including a lacerated tongue and a broken jaw, as reported by Wray.
Michael Corey Jenkins shows the scar that remains after a Mississippi law enforcement officer shot him in the mouth.
Michael Corey Jenkins shows the scar that remains after a Mississippi law enforcement officer shot him in the mouth.
Rogelio V. Solis/AP
“Can you imagine the abject terror those two victims must have felt? I mean, who do you call when the police are the ones terrorizing you?”
Jenkins was on the floor, bleeding from the gunshot wound, but the officers did not help, according to Wray. Instead, they created a cover story and even planted a gun on one of the victims to support their false narrative.
Ex-cop apologizes to victims: ‘I hate myself’
During Tuesday’s sentencing hearing for Elward, who shot Jenkins in the mouth, the former deputy apologized to his victims in court.
Elward apologized to Mr. Jenkins, acknowledging that he sees him every day and night. He expressed deep regret, stating, "I'm so sorry." Mr. Jenkins replied, understanding the impact of his actions on Elward. He accepted responsibility and admitted to hating himself for causing harm.
Jenkins nodded. Parker stood up and replied: “We forgive you, man.”
But Jenkins told CNN after the hearing that Elward’s apology “meant nothing” to him.
During his sentencing, Middleton admitted to the court that he took responsibility for his actions. He acknowledged making serious and harmful choices that had a lasting impact on many lives. Middleton expressed remorse and apologized to Jenkins, Parker, their families, his own family, and the community of Rankin County, where he served as a deputy and supervisor during the incident.
Eddie Terrell Parker, left, is seen with his aunt, Linda Rawls, outside the Thad Cochran United States Courthouse in Jackson, Mississippi, Tuesday, March 19, 2024.
Eddie Terrell Parker, left, is seen with his aunt, Linda Rawls, outside the Thad Cochran United States Courthouse in Jackson, Mississippi, Tuesday, March 19, 2024.
Rogelio V. Solis/AP
In his victim’s impact statement, read by attorney Malik Shabazz, Parker said he didn’t think Middleton was sorry.
"He used a sword to hit me," said the victim, expressing his offense at Jeffrey Middleton's lack of apology and attempt to downplay his involvement in the torture sessions and crimes.
In another victim's case, it has been revealed that similar violent actions were taken against them by Jeffrey Middleton.
New information is coming to light regarding another troubling case that some of the former officers have admitted to. Dedmon, Elward, and Opdyke have entered guilty pleas in federal court for crimes connected to a different incident in December 2022, as confirmed by the Justice Department.
Elward was sentenced on Tuesday for a federal charge of deprivation of rights under the color of law related to the December 2022 incident. The other two former officers are expected to be sentenced this week.
All three former deputies pleaded guilty to the incident involving a person identified only as “A.S.” in court documents.
Alan Schmidt, who had been pulled over by deputies in December 2022 for an expired tag, was identified as the victim in court by federal prosecutors on Tuesday. He told The New York Times that the deputies accused him of stealing tools during the traffic stop.
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The sheriff has made changes to the policies following an incident where deputies tortured two Black men. According to Schmidt, the "Goon Squad" members attacked him, hitting him, and using a taser on him. He also mentioned that one deputy rubbed his private parts and buttocks against his head.
The three ex-officers accused in Schmidt’s case – Dedmon, Elward and Opdyke – have all pleaded guilty to deprivation of rights under color or law. They entered plea agreements last July.
Dedmon also pleaded guilty to two more charges connected to the incident. These charges were discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence and a second count of deprivation of rights.
According to court documents, the charge of deprivation of rights can lead to a maximum sentence of 10 years. In addition, the firearms charge carries a minimum sentence of 10 years.
CNN reviewed court documents which stated that “Dedmon fired a gun close to A.S. with the intent of intimidating and forcing a confession.”
Schmidt's statement was shared by federal prosecutors in court during the sentencing of the "Goon Squad." In the statement, Schmidt expressed his hope to be able to forgive them. He acknowledged that he was not the only victim and mentioned that it would take years for him to live a somewhat normal life.
“I thought the assault would go on forever,” the statement said. “The harder I prayed, the harder I was beaten.”
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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