FORMER WILSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE CORRECTIONS OFFICER
PLEADS GUILTY TO CIVIL RIGHTS-RELATED CHARGE

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee Jim Vines, and Special Agent-in-Charge of the Memphis Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation James E. Farnan announced today that a former Wilson County Tennessee correctional officer pleaded guilty to criminal charges related to an ongoing federal criminal civil rights investigation into allegations of excessive force and obstruction of justice at the Wilson County Jail in Lebanon, Tennessee.

The defendant, John McKinney, worked as a correctional officer at the Wilson County Jail. McKinney admitted observing fellow correctional officers assault a jail inmate in September 2002, and submitting a false Wilson County Sheriff’s Department report concerning this incident in which he intentionally did not report the assaults he witnessed.

“When a law enforcement officer participates in a criminal cover-up, he breaks faith with the brave men and women throughout the country who maintain the high standards of integrity and professionalism we expect from officers of the law,” said Assistant Attorney General R. Alexander Acosta. “As today's plea demonstrates, those who attempt to cover-up the criminal conduct of others will be held accountable.”

U. S. Attorney Vines said, “This plea underscores our commitment to safeguarding the constitutional rights of all citizens.”

On November 13, 2003, two other former corrections officers pleaded guilty to charges arising out of the ongoing federal civil rights investigation into the use of force by correctional officers at Wilson County Jail.

Defendant McKinney was released pending sentencing, which is scheduled for July 2, 2004. McKinney faces a maximum potential penalty of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the charge of misprison of a felony.

In announcing the pleas, Assistant Attorney General Acosta commended the United States Attorney’s Office, the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division, the FBI, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the 15th Judicial District Attorney General’s Office for jointly spearheading this continuing investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney William M. Cohen and Civil Rights Division attorneys Gerard Hogan and Stephen Curran are prosecuting these cases for the government.

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