A federal investigation has found that conditions at the Boyd County Detention Center violates inmates’ civil rights.
The U.S. Department of Justice began its investigation in November 2016 and found the jail violates the Fourth, Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution. The findings show that the jail violated inmates’ right to bodily privacy via the use of restraint chairs. The troubled jail is also accused in the report of illegally using chemical agents and electronic control devises on inmates.
In December 2018, inmate Charles S. Finley, 36, of Ashland, was transported to a hospital suffering from what the Boyd County Coroner says was a fatal fentanyl overdose. Finley’s death was the second in four days and third in six months at the troubled facility. The week before Finley’s death, inmate Michael L. Moore, 40, of Ashland, was found dead at the jail. Five detention center employees were indicted on manslaughter charges in Moore’s death.
According to police, Moore arrived at the jail intoxicated and was placed in a restraint chair. The investigation into the incident showed that five deputy jailers, Zackary Messer, Brad Roberts, Colton Griffith, Jeremy Mattox, and Alicia Beller, abused or permitted Moore to be abused, which led to his death.
In June 2018, 44-year-old Laura Riley died at the jail due to acute methamphetamine intoxication. She had been in custody for two days.
Those deaths were only the most recent alarming events at the jail, as the facility has experienced a riot, gross overcrowding, mistaken releases, multiple escapes, and overdoses over the last few years.
“The Constitution guarantees all prisoners the reasonable expectation of personal privacy and the right to be free from excessive use of force,” Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division said. “Our investigation found reasonable cause to believe that the Jail inflicts punishment without justification and fails to protect its prisoners’ reasonable expectations of privacy. The Justice Department hopes to continue to work with the Jail to resolve the Department’s concerns.”
Jailer Joe Burchett resigned on December 3, 2018. He had been indicted on one count of malfeasance but the charged was dismissed.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com or 2760-259-6000
