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Wilcox County Sheriff's Department
Wilcox County Sheriff Stacy Bloodsworth agreed not to run for re-election as part of the deal that allowed him to be freed on bond.
The sheriff of a small Georgia county resigned Tuesday after he and his son were released on bond on federal charges of abusing inmates and lying to the FBI to cover it up.
Wilcox County Sheriff Stacy Bloodsworth resigned and agreed not to run for re-election as part of an agreement that allowed him to be released to house arrest on $25,000 bond. Wilcox County, population 8,600, is in south Georgia about 50 miles south of Macon.
Bloodsworth; his son, Austin Bloodsworth; and former inmate Willie James Caruthers — a jail trusty at the time — are charged with conspiracy, violation of constitutional rights, inmate abuse and lying to the FBI in the beatings of three inmates in 2009, according to the 14-count indictment on file with the office of the U.S. attorney's for the Middle District of Georgia.
The sheriff was also charged with tampering with one of the victims and with two witnesses, while former county jailer Casey Owens was charged with obstructing justice by writing false reports.
The civil rights charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count, while the conspiracy and false statements charges carry a maximum penalty of up to five years.
All of the defendants have pleaded not guilty. Bloodsworth's attorney, Tim Withers, wouldn't comment. No trial date has been set.
The two Bloodsworths and Caruthers are accused of assaulting two inmates and of joining Owens in assaulting a third inside the Wilcox County Jail in July 2009. One of the inmates suffered a broken jaw.
No further details of the alleged assaults were released.
"I think the indictment speaks for itself," U.S. Attorney Michael Moore told NBC station WMGT of Macon, who said his office was working with the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Justice Department. "Obviously, we consider them to be serious charges."
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News
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Yet another bad cop. No wonder no one trusts the police any more.
Yep!! They are everywhere. It isn't just the cops, it is the law period. The law is one of the most lucrative businesses out there. Takes money to fight the prosecution, if you don't have the money you better kiss your sweet rear end good bye.
Lock the bad cops up, set the jail on fire. Then they will know what it's like to be helpless and at some one elses mercy
I assume setting it on fire with bad cops in. Right Bud? Otherwise what's the use?
Wasn't it Georgia where Paul Newman played the prisoner? It may have been a "movie" but the reality is there NOW.
Let me remind you all of that story a few years back where a black man was walking down some railroad tracks, was told to halt, saw the lights, turned around and reached into his jacket pocket and was shot on the spot without first being able to reveal what he was reaching for...btw he was deaf and was reaching in his jacket for a card stating he was just so.
Police in this country must first witness or have viable information on any threat before firing and/or pulling out their weapon.
Here is another one, a personal favorite. A man was not obeying the speed-limit. Unlawful. A police officer attempts to pull him over, he ignores the officer. Where was he going? The hospital where [I believe] his mother was on her death-bed asking for him. When he pulled into the hospital parking lot the officer was right on his tail, pulled in, got out of his car, pulled his gun and demanded the man give up (etc etc). The man, not wanting to be shot stood his ground with no sudden movements but argued giving this officer the story his mother was dying. It took a nurse coming out, a few minutes of arguing and the officer's brain clicking to "go" for this man to be able to see his mother. When he got there she was already dead.
Oh, btw...the officer warned this man that he would shoot if he made to head into the hospital.
Huh...not all officers are this way but it seems to me that more and more are ending up making some "mistake" or another.
Ah yes, and pardon this reply to my own post. Let us not forget the obvious brutality of the protesters at [] college who were sprayed with pepper spray simply for sitting on the ground with arms linked.
Search on google "old story Deaf man shot by police while pulling out card"
You'll find it and much much more.
Shall I go on? Not sure it would be necessary.