Sentencing Delayed for Former Mississippi Officers Who Pleaded Guilty to Torturing Two Black Men

Sentencing for "Goon Squad" postponed due to attorneys needing more time; officers, who pleaded guilty to assault and conspiracy charges after racially-motivated torture of two Black men, face potential 5 to 30 year sentences.

• The sentencing of five former Rankin County sheriff's deputies and an ex-Richland city police officer, collectively known as the 'Goon Squad', has been postponed. The officers, including Brett McAlpin, Hunter Elward, Christian Dedmon, Jeffrey Middleton, Daniel Opdyke, and Joshua Hartfield, had pleaded guilty to charges relating to the torture of two Black men, Michael Jenkins and Eddie Parker.
• The deferral of the sentencing came after the defense attorneys requested more time to evaluate pre-sentencing reports and prepare objections. While a new date hasn't been set, some of the officers have requested it to be delayed until December 15.
• On January 24, the officers responded to a call that led them to the home of a white woman where Jenkins and Parker were residing. There, the men were reportedly subjected to racially-motivated assault and torture that included being beaten, shot in the mouth, called racial slurs and assaulted with sex toys.
• The incident came to light after one of the officers confessed to the sheriff about submitting false reports concerning the event, leading to a chain reaction of confessions from his colleagues. The officers tried to cover up their actions by planting drugs and a firearm in the home, leading to false charges against Jenkins and Parker. These charges were eventually dropped.
• The officers, who admitted their actions in August, agreed to sentences recommended by the prosecutors, ranging from five to 30 years. However, the judge isn't obligated to follow this recommendation. The time served for the state charges will run concurrently with the potentially longer federal sentences.

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