Former Rockcastle Deputy Jailer Sentenced to 39 Months for Civil Rights Violations

LONDON, Ky. – A former Rockcastle County Deputy Jailer, Derek Steven Clark, 25 ,was sentenced to 39 months in federal prison on Thursday, before U.S. District Court Judge Claria Horn Boom, for violating the civil rights of an inmate in his custody.

Clark was convicted by a federal jury, in July 2020.  According to testimony at trial, Clark and others placed an inmate victim into a restraint chair.  Clark then aided and commanded the assault of the victim by another inmate, which resulted in bodily injury.  Afterwards, Clark completed an official incident report, to document the incident; but in completing that report, Clark falsely stated that, after he and others placed the victim in the restraint chair, the victim began spitting at deputy jailers, causing two inmates to intervene.  Clark’s false report indicated one inmate instinctively slapped the victim, which caused the victim’s lip to bleed, and the victim then spit blood, causing the inmate to punch the victim.

The evidence established that, in truth, Clark and others placed the victim into the restraint chair, and the victim did not become physically combative or spit at deputies, before being punched by the inmate.           

Under federal law, Clark must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence and will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for two years, following his release.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and James Robert Brown, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, jointly announced the sentence.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI.  The United States was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hydee Hawkins.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

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