Date: 11-29-2018

Case Style:

Case Number: 3:18-cr-00085-TAD-KLH

Judge: Terry A. Doughty

Court: United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana

Plaintiff's Attorney: Mary Mudrick and Anita Channapati

Defendant's Attorney: Michael L. DuBos

Description: Shreveport, LA - Former Correctional Officer Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Cover up Physical Assault of Inmates

The Justice Department announced that former Richwood Correctional Center officer Demario Shaffer pleaded guilty on Monday in federal court for his role in a conspiracy to cover up the physical assault of five inmates by himself and other correctional officers in violation of the Constitutional prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. Shaffer, 33, of Delhi, Louisiana, pleaded guilty to conspiring to falsify documents with the intent to obstruct and influence a matter within federal jurisdiction. Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana David C. Joseph made the announcement.

“A correctional officer who uses excessive force against an inmate and then falsifies official reports violates the Constitution and its provision to protect all incarcerated offenders from cruel and unusual punishment,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband. "The Justice Department will continue to prosecute aggressively any similarly disgraceful and unlawful misconduct to ensure the integrity of our civil rights laws."

“Correctional officers are not allowed to abuse prisoners,” said United States Attorney David C. Joseph. “They must follow the law and not use their position of authority to assault those under their supervision.”

According to his guilty plea, Shaffer worked as a Sergeant at the Richwood Correctional Center in Monroe, Louisiana, where on Oct. 30, 2016, he and other officers inflicted cruel and unusual punishment upon five inmates by spraying a chemical agent in their face and eyes while the inmates were handcuffed, compliant, kneeling on the floor, and not posing a physical threat to anyone. Shaffer admitted that he conspired with the other officers to hide their conduct by submitting a false story in their official reports concerning the incident.

The count of conviction carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a criminal fine of up to $250,000. Shaffer is scheduled to be sentenced on May 1, 2019, by U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty of the Western District of Louisiana, who accepted the plea.

Charge:

CONSPIRACY AGAINST RIGHTS
(1)
DEPRIVE CIVIL RIGHTS
(2)
CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD THE UNITED STATES
(4)
STATEMENTS OR ENTRIES GENERALLY
(6)

Outcome: 11/26/2018 121 MINUTES for proceedings held before Judge Terry A Doughty: CHANGE OF PLEA HEARING as to Demario Shaffer (3) held on 11/26/2018. PLEA ENTERED: Guilty Count 4. Guilty plea accepted and defendant adjudged guilty of the offense. Presentence investigation report ordered. Sentencing set for 5/1/2019 at 1:30 PM in Monroe, 2nd floor before Judge Terry A Doughty. Sentencing memoranda to be filed at least seven days before sentencing. Defendant continued on bond pending sentencing. (Court Reporter: Debbie Lowery) (crt,YocumSld, M) (Entered: 11/27/2018)
11/26/2018 122 ORAL ORDER OF REFERRAL to Probation for Pre-Sentence Investigation and Report as to Demario Shaffer (3) by Judge Terry A Doughty on 11/26/2018. (crt,YocumSld, M) (Entered: 11/27/2018)
11/26/2018 123 PLEA AGREEMENT Accepted as to Demario Shaffer (3). (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit of understanding, # 2 Factual basis for guilty plea, # 3 Elements of offense) (crt,YocumSld, M) (Entered: 11/27/2018)

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

Comments: