AL Political Reporter: “A federal judge last sentenced a former Alabama correctional officer to nine years in prison for allowing another officer to beat two handcuffed inmates.
Willie Burks III, 41, a former lieutenant, is to serve nine years in prison and two years of supervised probation after his release, the U.S. Justice Department said in a press release. Burks was convicted by a federal jury on July 1, 2021.
Three other officers at the Elmore Correctional Facility have already pleaded guilty in connection with the beatings. Former corrections officer Ulysses Oliver pleaded guilty to unlawfully assaulting two handcuffed inmates. Briana Mosley and Leon Williams pleaded guilty for failing to stop Oliver, according to court records.
According to Oliver’s plea agreement, on Feb. 16 Oliver watched surveillance footage of what another officer said may be two inmates picking up a package of contraband outside of the visitation area’s fence line. After watching the video Oliver “became enraged” and went into a room where both inmates were sitting quietly and with their hands handcuffed behind their backs, according to court records.
“Burks then stood and watched as Oliver pulled the second inmate from the observation room, threw him on the floor, and beat the inmate with his feet and his collapsible baton,” the DOJ said in the release. “Despite having the duty, ability and opportunity to intervene to stop Oliver from beating the second inmate, Burks only stood by and said, “it’s fair.” Other ADOC correctional staff who reported to Burks were present for some or all of the assaults, but none intervened to stop Oliver from beating the inmates.””