Former Mississippi prison officer admits inmate assault

A woman who worked as an officer in a Mississippi prison has pleaded guilty to beating an inmate.

A statement from federal prosecutors says 29-year-old Sharalyn McClain pleaded guilty Monday to violating the rights of a prisoner who was assaulted at the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility in 2016.

Two other officers, Reginald Brown and Shelly Griffith, previously pleaded guilty to beating the man, who isn’t identified in a Justice Department release.

With her guilty plea, McClain admitted that, on May 25, 2016, she entered the cell of L.H., an inmate at CMCF. Along with two other correctional officers, Reginald Brown and Shelly Griffith, McClain punched, kicked, and stomped on L.H., while he laid face down, barely moving, on a mattress on the floor of his cell. McClain and the other two officers wore boots while they did this. While punching, kicking, and stomping on L.H., McClain knew that he did not pose a threat.

McClain faces a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment at a sentencing set for Feb. 7.

Brown has already been sentenced to serve five years in prison. Griffith is still awaiting sentencing.

McClain faces a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment. A sentencing date has been set for Feb. 7, 2020.