Fourth Mississippi ‘Goon Squad’ member sentenced for involvement in assault of Black men

A federal decide in Mississippi sentenced former Rankin County sheriff’s deputy Christian Dedmon to 40 years in jail on Wednesday, making Dedmon the fourth in a string of sentences for deputies who pled responsible for his or her function within the January 2023 beating and torture of two Black males. Dedmon pleaded responsible alongside 5 different deputies of the self-titled “Goon Squad,” together with Daniel Opdyke, who was sentenced to 17.5 years in jail earlier on Wednesday.

In January 2023, the six deputies who pleaded responsible beat, tortured and sexually assaulted two Black males, named Michael Jenkins and Eddie Parker, for hours throughout a warrantless home raid. Throughout the raid, the deputies shot Jenkins within the mouth as a part of a mock execution. Jenkins was then left to bleed with a damaged jaw and a lacerated tongue. After the assaults, the deputies planted medication and weapons on the boys to cowl up their acts. The warrantless raid got here after a neighbor voiced concern over doable drug exercise on the house.

In an announcement, by way of his lawyer, Jenkins referred to as Dedmon the worst of the group, stating, “Deputy Dedmon was essentially the most aggressive, sickest and essentially the most depraved.” Throughout the sentencing listening to, federal prosecutors described the sexual assaults Dedmon dedicated towards the boys. Lee referred to as Dedmon’s acts essentially the most “stunning, brutal and merciless acts conceivable.”

Legal professional Malik Shabazz, who represents the victims, stated of the sentencing:

Let this be a warning to all cops in america of America. When you enable deputies and officers beneath your command to go rogue, to commit crimes and to abuse individuals you’ll be held equally as accountable because the shooter and the abuser.

Jenkins and Parker have additionally filed a civil lawsuit towards Rankin County and Sheriff Bryan Bailey.

A New York Instances investigation into the Rankin County Sheriff’s Workplace revealed a historical past of brutality relationship again to 2004. Information present Dedmon was additionally current at a 2019 standoff between police and Pierre Woods, who was described by his household as “mentally disturbed.”

The ultimate two members of the “Goon Squad” are set to be sentenced on Thursday.