Former Juvenile Justice Employee Indicted for Civil Rights and Obstruction of Justice

ASHLAND, Ky.— A former Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice employee, Nathaniel K. Lumpkins, 32, of Elkfork, Ky., has been indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of deprivation of rights under color of law and one count of falsifying records or documents to obstruct justice.

Lumpkins was employed at Woodsbend Youth Development Center, a Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice facility located in West Liberty, Ky., and worked as a Youth Worker, responsible for the custody, care, and control of the juveniles housed there.  The indictment alleges that on January 23, 2019, Lumpkins, while working as a Youth Worker, violated the civil rights of a fifteen-year-old when he used unreasonable force to attempt to restrain the victim, causing bodily injury, including a broken arm.  The indictment further alleges that Lumpkins wrote and signed an incident report that included false information, attempting to cover up his use of force.       

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, announced the indictment.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by FBI.  The indictment was presented to the grand jury by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zach Dembo. 

Lumpkins will appear in Court for his arraignment on Friday.  For the deprivation of rights charge, Lumpkins faces up to 10 years in prison, and for the falsifying records charge, he faces up to 20 years in prison.  However, any sentence following a conviction would be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes. 

            Any indictment is an accusation only.  A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

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