Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has issued a statement regarding the sentencing of former Mississippi law enforcement officers who tortured and abused two Black men in Rankin County, Mississippi. Hunter Elward, a former Rankin County Sheriff’s Office Deputy, was sentenced to 20 years in prison, while Jeffrey Middleton, a former RCSO Lieutenant, was sentenced to 17.5 years in prison.
In his statement, Attorney General Garland emphasized the severity of the crimes committed by the defendants, stating, “These defendants will spend 20 years and 17.5 years in prison for their heinous attack on citizens they had sworn an oath to protect.” He further detailed the disturbing actions of the officers, highlighting how they unlawfully entered the victims' home, used racial slurs, and subjected them to physical violence, including firing a gun into one victim's mouth.
Garland reiterated the commitment of the Justice Department to holding accountable those who violate constitutional rights and betray public trust. He concluded by affirming that justice will be served in cases where law enforcement officers abuse their power and engage in criminal conduct.