Randel Branscum, Civil Rights Violation, Arkansas 2024

A former jail administrator in Arkansas has pleaded guilty to facilitating the assault of an inmate after instructing two other inmates to beat the victim.

Randel Branscum, 56, a former chief deputy and jail administrator with the Stone County Sheriff’s Office in Mountain View, Arkansas, pleaded guilty to violating the civil rights of the prisoner on February 26, 2016.

According to the plea agreement, Branscum approached the inmates in their cell and asked them to “handle” the victim. He then forced the victim into the cell and allowed the victim to be beaten by Matthew McConniel and James Beckham as instructed.

During the assault, the victim was repeatedly struck and his head was punched into a windowsill, causing a laceration and other injuries.

Branscum admitted that after the beating, he gave Beckham and McConniel tobacco.

“Branscum abused his authority as a law enforcement officer by facilitating the assault of an individual in custody,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “The Justice Department will continue to vigorously pursue and hold accountable members of law enforcement who violate their oath and the civil rights of others.”>

Branscum is expected to receive a sentence of 12 months and a day in federal prison. He will be sentenced at a later date.

This case was investigated by the FBI, and was prosecuted by Special Litigation Counsel Gerard Hogan, and Trial Attorneys Gabriel Davis and Samantha Trepel of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Peters of the Eastern District of Arkansas.

“Branscum’s actions undermine the credibility of all law enforcement officers, and he must be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Thyer of the Eastern District of Arkansas. “We will not tolerate the violation of anyone’s rights, and law enforcement officers who break the law and violate their oath to protect the public will continue to face the consequences of their actions.

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