William Curtis Howell, Excessive Force, Kentucky 2017
Former Deputy Jailer Convicted of Excessive Force in Pretrial Detainee's Death
A jury has convicted William Curtis Howell, a former deputy jailer in eastern Kentucky, for his role in violently assaulting a pre-trial detainee and willfully failing to provide necessary medical attention that led to his death.
On July 9, 2013, Howell and another supervisory deputy jailer, Damon Wayne Hickman, violently beat Larry Trent, a 54-year-old pretrial detainee, and left him in his cell, seriously injured and bleeding from an open head wound. Trent ultimately died from injuries sustained during the beating.
The assault started when Howell and Hickman opened the door to Trent's cell to remove a sleeping-mat, and Trent ran out of the cell. Howell tased Trent, and after Trent was brought to the floor, Hickman violently kicked Trent in the ribs. Witnesses testified that after deputies retrieved the Taser from Trent and while deputy jailers restrained Trent on the floor, Howell and Hickman punched, kicked, and stomped on Trent.
Trent was lying motionless in his cell with blood all over his face, but Howell and Hickman willfully failed to provide medical attention because they did not want to get in trouble. Approximately four hours after the beating, another employee at the jail noticed Trent's lifeless body and emergency personnel were called. Trent was pronounced dead at a local hospital that afternoon.
The jury returned the verdict after 90 minutes of deliberation, following four days of trial. Howell is scheduled to be sentenced on August 16, 2017, in London, Kentucky. Excessive use of force resulting in bodily injury carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment, and deliberate indifference resulting in bodily injury carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment.
According to autopsy results, Trent died of a fracture to his pelvis that caused hemorrhaging and from blunt force trauma to his head, torso, and extremities.
The Kentucky River Regional Jail houses pre-trial detainees from Perry and Knott Counties. As a supervisory deputy jailer, Howell was responsible for the custody, care, safety, and control of the inmates at the jail.
This is not the first assault to take place at the Kentucky River Regional Jail. In 2012, a similar assault occurred, and in April of this year, Kevin Asher, the deputy jailer involved in that assault, was convicted of deprivation of civil rights under color of law and obstruction of justice resulting in bodily injury.
The investigation was conducted by the Kentucky State Police and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hydee Hawkins and Trial Attorney Sanjay Patel prosecuted the case on behalf of the federal government.
Defendant: William Curtis Howell
Criminal Charges: Using excessive force against a detainee resulting in bodily injury and willfully failing to provide necessary medical attention resulting in bodily injury
City: London, KY
Date: July 9, 2013 (crime date)
Sentence: Scheduled for August 16, 2017
Outcome: Convicted
Defendant's Status: Former supervisory deputy jailer
Key Facts
- State: Kentucky
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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