Hunter Elward, a former Mississippi sheriff’s deputy, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in the torture of two Black men, Michael Jenkins and Eddie Parker, in January 2023. This sentencing marks the first of six Mississippi ex-officers to be handed down such a severe punishment for their involvement in the incident, which has been described as a case of racially motivated torture.
Elward pleaded guilty to federal charges including discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, conspiracy against rights, deprivation of rights under color of law, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and obstruction of justice.
The charges stem from the January 2023 incident where the officers illegally entered Jenkins and Parker’s home, handcuffed them, kicked, waterboarded, and tased them. The officers also attempted to sexually assault them over nearly two hours before one of the deputies put a gun in Jenkins’ mouth and shot him.
The officers involved in the incident referred to themselves as “The Goon Squad” due to their willingness to use excessive force and not report it. During Elward’s sentencing hearing, he expressed remorse, stating, “I’m so sorry. 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.” Jenkins nodded in response, and Parker stood up to reply, “We forgive you, man”.
The first: Hunter Elward, an ex-former Mississippi sheriff’s deputy, has been sentenced to about 20 years in prison for his part in torturing two Black men pic.twitter.com/V0Nt7J6FHW
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) March 19, 2024
U.S. District Judge Tom Lee sentenced Elward to the maximum allowed under federal law, calling the former deputy’s actions “despicable.” The judge emphasized the egregious and despicable nature of the crimes and the impact they had on the victims, stating that a sentence at the top of the guidelines was more than justified. Lee also noted that despite the horrendous actions of the defendants, he remains convinced that the vast majority of those in the law enforcement community take their commitment to serve and protect the safety and wellbeing of all citizens seriously.
Elward was also ordered to help pay $79,500 in restitution to Parker and Jenkins and to submit to three years of supervised probation upon his release. The sentence will be enforced after he completes his time on state charges.
This case highlights the severity of the charges and the extent of the officers’ actions, which have been described as racist torture. The sentencing of Elward and the upcoming hearings for the remaining officers involved in the incident underscore the seriousness with which such crimes are taken and the lengths to which the legal system will go to ensure justice is served.
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