Daniel Mitchell, Conspiracy to Violate Civil Rights, North Carolina 2021
A former Federal Bureau of Prisons Lieutenant has been convicted of conspiring to violate an inmate's civil rights, according to the Justice Department.
Daniel Mitchell, a former lieutenant at the Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP), pleaded guilty this week to one charge of conspiring to violate civil rights.
On December 8, 2021, Mitchell was on duty as a lieutenant supervising the special housing unit (SHU) at Federal Correctional Institute Butner Medium II. Victim K.G. was an inmate housed in the SHU under Mitchell's supervision.
Mitchell devised a plan to violently retaliate against inmate K.G. after a female officer reported to him that K.G. had exposed himself and engaged in a sexual act within her view. Mitchell directed another corrections officer, co-conspirator 1, to take inmate K.G. from his cell to a holding cell to 'teach him a lesson' by 'tuning him up.'
Co-conspirator 1 asked some fellow officers to help move inmate K.G. to a holding cell. Once they were alone in the cell, co-conspirator 1 struck and kicked inmate K.G. several times, and knocked him to the ground. Inmate K.G. sustained minor injuries and later called a medical emergency to his room because the incident aggravated a preexisting back condition and caused spasms.
The Justice Department's Office of the Inspector General initiated an investigation into the matter after an officer witness raised concerns. In interviews, multiple officer witnesses described officer co-conspirator 1's unprovoked assault on inmate K.G. Officers also described seeing co-conspirator 1 meet with Mitchell just prior to when co-conspirator 1 asked for their assistance moving inmate K.G. to the holding cell.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 31, 2025. Mitchell faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case was investigated by the Justice Department's Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jake D. Pugh for the Eastern District of North Carolina is prosecuting the case.
Key Facts
- State: Federal
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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