Former ‘Goon Squad’ officers sentenced for civil rights offenses

Former Mississippi Sheriff’s Deputy Hunter Elward received a 20-year prison sentence on Tuesday, March 19, for the torture of two Black men in 2023. Elward pleaded guilty in August to federal charges of discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, conspiracy against rights, deprivation of rights under color of law, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and obstruction of justice related to the January 2023 incident. Jeffrey Middleton, a 46-year-old former sheriff’s deputy whom federal prosecutors described as the ringleader of the group, was sentenced to& more than 17 and a half years in prison. The former deputies counted among six former law enforcement officers, self-identified as the “Goon Squad,” who were scheduled to face sentencing following their admissions of guilt to federal civil rights violations. The charges stem from the heinous acts of torture and sexual assault perpetrated against two Black individuals and an anonymous white victim. Brett McAlpin, Christian Dedmon, and Daniel Opdyke, as well as former Richland Police Department officer Joshua Hartfield, pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiracy against rights, deprivation of rights under color of law, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and obstruction of justice related to the incident. Dedmon and Opdyke will be sentenced on...