Hawaii Guard Brutalized Inmate, Covered It Up: 8 Years

A former correctional officer at Hawaii Community Correctional Center is headed to federal prison for eight years after admitting to savagely beating an inmate and then attempting to bury the evidence. Jason Tagaloa, 36, was sentenced this week after pleading guilty to assault and conspiracy to obstruct justice, a case that exposes a rotten core within the facility.

The beating occurred June 15, 2015, during a routine inmate transfer. Tagaloa, along with other unidentified correctional officers, reportedly became enraged when the inmate displayed fear, escalating into a violent attack. Witnesses say Tagaloa initiated the assault, throwing the inmate to the ground before repeatedly punching and kicking him in the face, head, and body. The inmate suffered a broken jaw, fractured orbital socket, and a broken nose – injuries that required extensive medical attention and will likely leave lasting scars.

But the physical assault was only half the crime. Tagaloa and his co-conspirators immediately launched a cover-up, filing false reports and fabricating accounts of the incident. They allegedly lied to internal affairs investigators and attempted to mislead disciplinary board members, all to protect themselves from accountability. This systematic deception underscores the depth of the corruption and the willingness of these officers to prioritize self-preservation over truth and justice.

Federal prosecutors revealed that Tagaloa wasn’t acting alone. While the names of his co-defendants haven’t been released, investigators confirmed multiple officers were involved in both the beating and the subsequent cover-up. The feds built their case on witness testimony, medical records, and internal prison documentation, painstakingly unraveling the web of lies spun by the correctional officers. The investigation was spearheaded by the FBI’s Honolulu field office.

The sentence handed down to Tagaloa is a significant, but likely insufficient, step toward addressing systemic abuse within the Hawaii corrections system. While eight years is a substantial prison term, critics argue that it doesn’t fully reflect the severity of the crime or the betrayal of public trust. The victim, whose identity has not been released, will undoubtedly suffer long-term physical and emotional consequences from the brutal attack. The feds have not yet announced whether the co-conspirators will also face charges.

This case serves as a stark reminder that correctional officers, entrusted with the safety and well-being of inmates, are not above the law. The Grimy Times will continue to monitor this story and expose the dark underbelly of the corrections system, holding those who abuse their power accountable for their actions. The public deserves to know when those sworn to uphold the law become the perpetrators of violence and deceit.