Three Former Correctional Officers from Augusta State Medical Prison Indicted For Roles in Beating Inmate

AUGUSTA, GA – Former Augusta State Medical Prison correctional officers John Williams, Antonio Binns and Justin Washington were charged in the Southern District of Georgia with a civil rights violation for their alleged role in the beating of an inmate, known as C.V., on Feb. 13, 2014.  Binns and Washington were also charged with one count of obstruction of justice.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; U.S. Attorney Edward J. Tarver of the Southern District of Georgia and Special Agent in Charge J. Britt Johnson of the FBI’s Atlanta Division made the announcement.

The indictment alleges that on Feb. 13, 2014, Williams, Binns and Washington assaulted C.V. while he was handcuffed behind his back.  The indictment further alleges that Binns and Washington wrote false reports covering up the assault.

An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.  If convicted of the civil rights charge, each defendant faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.  The obstruction of justice counts carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Augusta Resident Agency.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charlie Bourne and C. Troy Clark of the Southern District of Georgia and Trial Attorney Angie Cha of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.  Any questions should be directed to First Assistant United States Attorney James D. Durham at (912) 201-2547.