Former Missouri Prison Guard Indicted on Civil Rights, Child pornography Charges

ST. LOUIS – A former correctional officer at a Missouri prison was indicted Wednesday on a civil rights charge and two counts of possession of child pornography. 

Carl Hart, 36, of Farmington, was a corrections officer at the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Bonne Terre at the time of the alleged assault, the indictment says.

The indictment says that on Oct. 28, 2021, Hart deprived an inmate of the right to be free from unreasonable force by assaulting him while he did not pose a threat to anyone. The inmate was injured, the indictment says.

The indictment also says Hart possessed child pornography between roughly April 21, 2018, and June 29, 2022.

Hart is also facing three child pornography charges in St. Francois County Circuit Court.

Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt.  Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Krug is prosecuting the case.