A former Lucas County Sheriff’s Sergeant has been sentenced to three years in prison for his role in the in-custody death of a pretrial detainee at the Lucas County Jail.
John E. Gray, a 20-year veteran of the Lucas County Sheriff’s Office, was found guilty by a jury in December 2010 of federal civil rights violations and records falsification relating to the death of Carlton Benton in 2004.
Benton, a pretrial detainee, died on May 30, 2004, after being assaulted by Gray in a cell at the Lucas County Jail. Gray and former Deputy Jay M. Schmeltz wrote false reports concealing the incidents, prosecutors said.
Gray was sentenced by Judge David A. Katz to three years in prison, followed by two years supervised release. Gray’s co-defendant, Deputy Jay M. Schmeltz, was sentenced to one year and one day in prison followed by two years of supervised release and a $6,000 fine for writing a false report about the incident.
Prosecutors said that Gray and Schmeltz abused their power and lied about the circumstances surrounding Benton’s death. The case was investigated by the FBI’s Cleveland Division and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio.
The sentencing of Gray and Schmeltz sends a strong message that law enforcement officers who abuse their power will face consequences, said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division.
The case highlights the importance of holding law enforcement officers accountable for their actions and ensuring that the integrity of the criminal justice system is protected, said Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
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Key Facts
- State: Federal
- Category: Public Corruption|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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