A former corrections officer was found guilty of aiding white supremacist attacks on Black inmates in Oklahoma.
RELATED STORIES: Two Inmates Pregnant After Sleeping With Transgender Inmate
Former supervisory corrections officer Matthew Ware was found guilty Friday of violating the civil rights of three pretrial detainees at the Kay County Detention Center. The Justice Department said in a press release that Ware deprived them of their rights to be “free from a correction officers’ deliberate indifference to a substantial risk of serious harm” in addition to “use of excessive force.”
Conviction of Matthew Ware, former Kay County Oklahoma supervisory corrections officer, for civil rights violations:
“The preservation of civil rights and the investigation of Color of Law violations are of utmost priority for the FBI.”
Full statement:https://t.co/WQZRScQTIj pic.twitter.com/2W1ng1jI5p
— FBI Oklahoma City (@FBIOklahomaCity) April 15, 2022
As reported by Insider, Ware commanded two low-ranking officers in 2017 to move two Black detainees, D’Angelo Wilson and Marcus Miller, to a section that housed white supremacist inmates.
“When Ware’s orders were followed, the white supremacist inmates attacked Wilson and Miller, resulting in physical injury to both, including a facial laceration to Wilson that required seven stitches to close”
“This high-ranking corrections official had a duty to ensure that the civil rights of pretrial detainees in his custody were not violated. The defendant abused his power and authority by ordering subordinate corrections officers to violate the constitutional rights of several pretrial detainees. The Civil Rights Division will continue to hold corrections officials accountable when they violate the civil rights of detainees and inmates,” said Assistant Attorney General Kirsten Clarke.
RELATED STORIES: Corrections Officer Jailed For Having Sex With Inmate In Front Of Eleven Others
In 2018, Ware also commanded one of the low-ranking officers to restrain Christopher Davis in a “stretched-out” position for approximately 90 minutes. Due to his wrists being restrained on the far end of the bench, Davis sustained injuries. Investigators believe this was Ware’s response to Davis criticizing his position as supervisor.
“[The] testimony also revealed that, on Jan. 31, 2018, while Ware served as the Acting Captain of the KCDC, he ordered a lower-ranking corrections officer to restrain another pretrial detainee, Christopher Davis, in a stretched-out position — with Davis’ left wrist restrained to the far-left side of the bench and his right wrist restrained to the far-right side of the bench — in retaliation for Davis sending Ware a note that criticized how Ware ran the KCDC. Davis was left restrained in this position for 90 minutes, resulting in physical injury.”
Ware was reportedly involved in an alleged coverup of sexual harassment at the workplace.
It looks like Ware was involved in a workplace coverup of sexual harassment too:
‘Wright alleged she reported the sexual harassment to Lt. Chief of Security Matthew Ware, who “dismissed” her complaint, and that “no responsive action was taken.”’ https://t.co/Y8WiXx2jwq
— Maureen Moore (@HopesMom12) April 15, 2022
He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 per violation. Sentencing is scheduled to take place within 90 days.