‘Goon squad’ members sentenced for state charges in torture of Black men in Mississippi

Six former Mississippi law enforcement officers who pleaded guilty to a host of state and federal charges for torturing two Black men were sentenced to years in prison on state charges on Wednesday. 

Former Rankin County deputies Brett McAlpin, Christian Dedmon, Jeffrey Middleton, Hunter Elward and Daniel Opdyke and former Richland police officer Joshua Hartfield were sentenced to between 15 and 45 years for illegally entering the home of Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker on Jan. 24, 2023, and torturing the two men in a racially motivated act.

Rankin County Circuit Judge Steve Ratcliff sentenced Hartfield to 15 years. McAlpin, Middleton and Opdyke were each sentenced to 20 years; Dedmon was sentenced to 25 years and Elward to 45 years. 

All six were also ordered to pay $6,431 within two years of release and will need to permanently surrender their law enforcement certificates.

The men are currently serving time for federal convictions in the crime, and their state sentences will run concurrently with their federal ones. The ex-officers will serve their time in federal penitentiaries.

Attorney Malik Shabazz called the sentencing “significant.”

“We would have preferred that a couple of more years of extra time were added to the defendants’ sentences,” Shabazz said Wednesday at a news conference. 

“However, we respect the judgment of this court. We respect the wisdom of this court and Mississippi has spoken here.”

On Jan. 24, 2023, the officers —  who nicknamed themselves the “Goon Squad” for their willingness to use excessive force — were called to the home by a white person reporting that two Black men were staying with a white woman. 

When the officers arrived at the scene, they unleashed a torrent of racial slurs upon Parker and Jenkins as they handcuffed, kicked, waterboarded, used a Taser on and attempted to sexually assault the two Black men. 

Elward also tried a “mock execution” that went awry and shot Jenkins in the mouth, lacerating his tongue and breaking his jaw. 

Following the torture, the six officers devised a cover-up and planted drugs on Jenkins and Parker. The two men faced charges for months.

In August, the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office filed state charges of conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice against each of the officers. Dedmon was also charged with home invasion, and Elward was charged with home invasion and aggravated assault.

All six had pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiracy against rights, deprivation of rights under color of law, conspiracy to obstruct justice and obstruction of justice. Elward faced the most serious federal charge of discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence.

On Wednesday, a statement on behalf of Jenkins read to the court said that Jan. 24, 2023, “was the worst day of my life.”

“I was brutally beaten and nearly killed by the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department, also known as the Goon Squad. I never would have thought a night of hanging out with friends would nearly cost me my life.”

“I can no longer do what I love to do and that’s sing,” the statement continued. “I play the drums for my church. And because I was shot in the face, it affected my vision so I can no longer play. … I wake it up at night covered in sweat because of the nightmares of my attack. Loud noises police lights, sirens, all give me extreme fear and anxiety. I am broken inside and I don’t ever think I’ll be the person I was.”

Parker’s statement said the day “has left a scar on me that will last forever.”

“I never knew the ones that were sworn to protect and serve would be the ones I need protection from,” the statement said. “I am in constant fear someone will break into my home and terrorize me again … the humiliation and embarrassment from the sexual assault is too great to me to talk about.”

“My life was not perfect,” the statement concluded. “But it was mine. I doubt if I’ll ever experience it again … They should be given what they gave me and Michael Jenkins — which was no mercy and I pray for the maximum sentence.”

Jenkins and Parker have filed a $400 million federal lawsuit, which is still pending.