MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The iron gates of the Muskogee County Jail held more than just inmates, according to federal prosecutors. Today, a jury delivered a stinging rebuke to the men who ran it, convicting former Jail Superintendent Raymond A. Barnes, 43, and Assistant Superintendent Christopher A. Brown, 32, on multiple counts of violating inmates’ civil rights and obstructing a federal investigation. The charges stem from a pattern of brutal treatment at the jail between August 2009 and May 2011.
The courtroom heard damning testimony detailing a systematic campaign of abuse. Barnes and Brown were found guilty of conspiring to violate the rights of those in their custody, either by personally assaulting them or directing other jailers to do so. The indictment painted a picture of a facility where restrained, compliant inmates were subjected to unjustifiable beatings and physical punishment. The jury also heard about the infamous “meet and greets” – a horrifying initiation ritual where new inmates from neighboring counties were thrown and slammed to the ground upon arrival, all while handcuffed.
The culture of brutality wasn’t accidental, prosecutors argued. Barnes and Brown actively silenced dissent, threatening to fire employees who dared report the abuse to Sheriff’s officials or outside law enforcement. They allegedly mandated the falsification of incident reports, ensuring that any use of force was misrepresented or outright fabricated. This created a climate where unlawful beatings continued unchecked, shielded by a wall of lies and intimidation. The DOJ presented evidence that the defendants fostered an environment that allowed inmate assaults to continue indefinitely without consequence.
The jury specifically found both men guilty of violating the rights of an inmate identified as J.R., detailing an incident where jailers slammed J.R. head-first to the ground while he was handcuffed. Barnes faced an additional conviction for similar conduct against another inmate, G.T. While Brown was acquitted regarding G.T., his troubles didn’t end there. He was also convicted of making material false statements to the FBI during the investigation.
According to the DOJ, Brown lied to federal investigators about the “meet and greets,” claiming inmates were “gently placed” on the ground. In reality, Brown knew full well that jailers routinely threw restrained inmates to the ground with force. “Our Constitutional system of government requires this nation’s jailers to abide by the laws they enforce, and to protect the Constitutional rights of all persons in their custody,” stated Acting Assistant Attorney General Jocelyn Samuels. “Today’s verdict demonstrates that the Department of Justice will vigorously prosecute anyone who abuses their official power to harm the people in their custody.”
Both Barnes and Brown now face significant prison time. Each civil rights conviction carries a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years. Brown, with the additional charge of making false statements to the FBI, could face up to five years on that count alone. The case was investigated by the Muskogee Resident Agency of the Oklahoma City Division of the FBI and prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Fara Gold and Dana Mulhauser of the Civil Rights Division. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as sentencing approaches, and will report any further developments.
Related Federal Cases
- Muskogee Man Gets 5 Years for Gun & Drugs · Oklahoma
- Muskogee Felon Faces Decade in Prison for Firearm Smuggling · Oklahoma
- Muskogee Man Pleads Guilty to Gun Possession · Oklahoma
- Muskogee Woman Pleads Guilty to Cover-Up of Felon · Oklahoma
- Muskogee Man Gets 9 Years for Child Exploitation Images · Colorado
Key Facts
- State: Oklahoma
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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