Two former Mississippi law enforcement officers who were members of the self-styled “Goon Squad” were sentenced on Tuesday to prison time after admitting to torturing and abusing two Black men last year.
Hunter Elward, 31, faced the most serious charges for shooting one of the victims and was sentenced in Federal court to 20 years in prison, while Jeffrey Middleton, 46, who prosecutors said was the ringleader of the group, was sentenced to more than 17 and a half years in prison.
While Elward and Middleton, both former sheriff’s deputies with the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office, were sentenced for their part in the abuse of Michael Jenkins and Eddie Parker, four more former law enforcement officials, former deputies Brett McAlpin, Christian Dedmon, and Daniel Opdyke, and former Richland police officer Joshua Hartfield, are scheduled to be sentenced this week.
The incident the officers were sentenced for took place on Jan. 24, 2023, when the officer illegally entered the home of a woman whom Parker was helping take care of; placed them in handcuffs, kicked, waterboarded, and used Tasers on both men; and then attempted to sexually assault them for more than two hours before Elward put a gun in Jenkins’ mouth and shot him, according to a lawsuit filed by Jenkins and Parker.
The then-officers reportedly went to the home on Jan. 24 after a neighbor reported that several Black men were staying at a white Woman’s home and reported seeing suspicious behavior among the group of people.
However, prosecutors were not able to find evidence of any crime taking place.
The claims in the suit were brought forth in August during the six men’s case, where they all pleaded guilty to the charges brought against them, the Associated Press reported at the time.
Three of the officers, Elward, Middleton, and Opdyke, were a part of a group of deputies that dubbed themselves “The Goon Squad” due to their willingness to use excessive force that would go unreported, court documents showed.
Outside the courtroom on Tuesday, Jenkins shared with reporters that “It’s a long time coming. I’ve been through a lot, and this is it. This is what I want to see.”
“I’m not a man of excuses. I fought hard with myself ever since that night. A lot of people are only mad when they get caught … I have to live every night with what I’ve seen and what I’ve done,” Elward said in a statement during the sentencing hearing.
He then went on to address Jenkins directly.
“Mr. Jenkins, I see you every day and every night. I’m so doggone sorry,” Elward said. “I don’t want to get too personal with you, Michael. There’s no telling what you’ve seen. I’m so sorry that I caused that. I hate myself for it. I hate that I gave you that. I accept all responsibility.”
Jenkin told CNN that the apology “meant nothing” to him.
“I never thought a night hanging out with friends would almost cost me my life,” Jenkins’ statement during the hearing said. “I’m hurt, I’m broken, I’m ashamed and embarrassed by the entire situation. They tried to take my manhood from me. They did some unimaginable things to me, and the affects of it will forever linger in my life.”
US Attorney General Merrick Garland commented on the sentencing, saying in a statement that justice had been served.
“These defendants kicked in the door of a home where two Black men were residing, handcuffed and arrested them without probable cause, called them racial slurs, and punched, kicked, tased, and assaulted them,” he said. “After one of the defendants fired his gun in the mouth of one of the victims, breaking his jaw, the defendants gathered outside to come up with a cover story as the victim lay bleeding on the floor. The Justice Department will hold accountable officers who violate constitutional rights, and in so doing, betray the public trust.”