A former Kentucky deputy jailer accused of beating an inmate to death has been sentenced to 10.5 years in federal prison.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said 40-year-old Damon Wayne Hickman, of Hazard, was sentenced Wednesday in connection with the 2013 death of 54-year-old Larry Trent, who was being held at the Kentucky River Regional Jail in Hazard on a DUI charge.
Prosecutors said two deputy jailers, Hickman and 60-year-old William Curtis Powell, beat Trent after he ran out of his cell. After beating Trent, the two deputy jailers left him bleeding on the floor.
Hickman, who is listed as being 6-6 and weighing more than 400 pounds, pled guilty in November 2016 to three charges in the case and testified against Howell.
Howell was convicted in May but has yet to be sentenced. Hickman must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before being eligible for parole.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the assault started when Howell and Hickman opened the door to Trent’s cell to remove a sleeping-mat, and Trent ran out of the cell. Howell tased Trent; and after Trent was brought to the floor, Hickman, without justification, violently kicked Trent in the ribs. While deputies carried Trent back to his cell, Trent took the Taser from the deputy jailers.
Witnesses testified that after deputies retrieved the Taser from Trent and while deputy jailers restrained Trent on the floor, Howell and Hickman, without justification, punched, kicked, and stomped on Trent, according to authorities. Witnesses further testified that, before closing the cell door, Howell stepped into Trent’s cell and kicked Trent in the head while Trent was on the floor and posing no threat. Further testimony was presented that, after the assault, Trent’s blood was in the detox hallway, booking area and on the deputies involved.
Testimony further revealed that Trent was lying motionless in his cell with blood all over his face. However, Howell and Hickman willfully failed to provide medical attention, because they did not want to get in trouble. Approximately four hours after the beating, another employee at the jail noticed Trent’s lifeless body and emergency personnel were called. Trent was pronounced dead at a local hospital that afternoon.
Autopsy results presented at trial showed Trent died of a pelvis fracture that caused hemorrhaging, and from blunt force trauma to his head, torso and extremities.
(Photo courtesy of Laurel County Corrections)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com or 270-259-6000
