Alabama Investigator Admits Jailhouse Assault

MONTGOMERY, AL – J. Keith McCray, 41, of Tuskegee, Alabama, a criminal investigator with the Macon County Sheriff’s Office, confessed in federal court today to brutally assaulting a handcuffed man within the walls of the Macon County Jail. The attack left the victim with bodily injuries, and McCray now faces serious federal consequences.

The incident began far from the jail, on July 4, 2013. McCray, while at his home, was approached by a door-to-door salesman offering alarm systems. After declining the offer, McCray took matters into his own hands – unlawfully seizing the salesman at gunpoint as he attempted to leave the property. Instead of lawful arrest, McCray transported the man to the Macon County Jail.

According to court documents revealed during the plea hearing, McCray then unleashed a violent attack on the already restrained victim. While the man was handcuffed and presented no threat, McCray struck him four times in the face and head. This wasn’t law enforcement; it was a calculated assault of power.

McCray pleaded guilty to one felony count of deprivation of rights under color of law. The charge carries a maximum sentence of ten years in prison and a hefty $250,000 fine. The Department of Justice is making it clear: abusing authority will not be tolerated. “The defendant attacked an innocent citizen who was simply trying to earn a living on the day of the incident. When he assaulted the defenseless victim, he violated the trust put in him by the community as well as the law,” stated Jocelyn Samuels, Acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights.

U.S. Attorney George L. Beck, Jr., for the Middle District of Alabama, underscored the gravity of the situation. “While we look to law enforcement to maintain the safety and security of our citizens, their position of authority does not give them the right to act outside the bounds of the law,” Beck said. “We entrust them to protect and serve our communities. While most members of law enforcement serve honorably, McCray breached this trust and must be held accountable.”

The investigation was a joint effort between the FBI and the Alabama Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerusha T. Adams of the Middle District of Alabama, alongside Trial Attorney Chiraag Bains of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, are prosecuting the case. This conviction serves as a stark reminder that even those sworn to uphold the law are subject to it.

PRESS CONTACT: Clark Morris
usaalm.press@usdoj.gov
(334) 551-1755
(334) 223-7617