Terrance Reynolds, Civil Rights Violations, Florida 2017
Corrections Officer Charged with Civil Rights Violations
In a shocking turn of events, Terrance Reynolds, a 28-year-old Florida Department of Corrections officer, has been indicted for conspiring to commit civil rights violations and making false statements. According to the indictment, Reynolds and former sergeant Brendan Butler instructed three inmates to exit their housing unit and took them into a mop closet, where they were assaulted and intimidated.
On March 27, 2017, Reynolds and Butler allegedly assaulted one of the inmates with a stick and their fists, causing him bodily injury. The following day, they assaulted another inmate to punish him for talking about the previous day's assault and for being disrespectful. Both assaults caused bodily injury to the victims.
Reynolds is also charged with making false statements to the FBI about his whereabouts on the dates of the assaults. Brendan Butler, who pleaded guilty on May 18 to conspiracy to commit civil rights violations, was sentenced to 24 months in prison on August 23.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and Reynolds is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The case is being investigated by the FBI Miami Area Corruption Task Force and the Florida Department of Corrections' Office of the Inspector General.
The indictment states that Reynolds and Butler took advantage of the youthful offenders, who are classified as such by a court or the Department of Corrections if they meet certain criteria and are 24 years old or younger. Reynolds faces five counts in the indictment, with a statutory maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.
This disturbing case highlights the need for accountability within law enforcement agencies. As a society, we expect our corrections officers to uphold the law and protect the rights of those in their care. The allegations against Reynolds and Butler are a stark reminder that even those in positions of power can abuse their authority and violate the rights of others.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Senior of the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Samantha Trepel of the Civil Rights Division.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Defendant: Terrance Reynolds
Charges: Conspiring to commit civil rights violations and making false statements
City and state: Miami, Florida
Date: March 27, 2017
Sentence: 24 months (Brendan Butler); Reynolds faces 40 years in prison
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Violent Crime|Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →