Ex-Florida Corrections Officer Sentenced for Inmate Assault

Former Florida corrections officer Paul Tillis was found guilty by a federal jury for a heinous assault on an inmate, marking a significant victory for justice.

The incident occurred in 2005 at the Florida State Prison, where Tillis, then a supervisory officer, poured scalding water onto an inmate who had feigned injury. The victim suffered second-degree burns as a result of the attack, which Tillis failed to report or treat properly.

Loretta King, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, emphasized the severity of the crime, stating that corrections officers must not use their authority to harm inmates. ‘The feds will continue to prosecute those who cross the line,’ she said.

Tillis now faces up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mac Heavener and Trial Attorney Douglas Kern of the Civil Rights Division led the prosecution against Tillis.

Investigation was conducted by agents from the FBI’s Jacksonville Division and the Florida Office of Inspector General. The Civil Rights Division has been relentless in enforcing laws that prohibit excessive force, with 2008 seeing the highest number of federal criminal civil rights cases ever filed.

This conviction serves as a stark reminder of the dedication of federal prosecutors to uphold the law and protect the rights of all inmates.