A former correctional officer has been convicted of violating the civil rights of an inmate while working at the Rensselaer County Correctional Facility in Troy, New York.
Keith Ronald Hancock Jr., 37, was found guilty by a jury in Albany, New York, of assaulting an inmate and making false statements to the FBI regarding the incident in January 2009.
The jury heard evidence that Hancock struck an inmate on multiple occasions while the inmate was handcuffed behind the back and under the control of other correctional officers.
After the incident, Hancock prepared an incident report in which he failed to report his uses of force or provide any justification for them.
Thereafter, during the course of the federal investigation, Hancock falsely denied his conduct.
“Corrections officers who abuse their authority and violate the rights of inmates under their supervision do a disservice to all officers who take an oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution,” said Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Thomas E. Perez.
The defendant’s conviction for violating the inmate’s civil rights carries a maximum statutory penalty of up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. The conviction for making a false statement to the FBI carries a maximum statutory penalty of up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 12, 2011.
The investigation in this matter was conducted by the Albany Division of the FBI, with the assistance of the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office.
The case was prosecuted by the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York.
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Key Facts
- State: Federal
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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