Two former deputies from the Richmond County Sheriff's Office in Georgia have admitted guilt to federal civil rights violations related to an assault on a jail detainee. Daniel D’Aversa, 52, and Melissa Morello, 28, both entered guilty pleas to charges of deprivation of civil rights under color of law.
Court documents reveal that on May 7, 2022, Morello was working as a jailer at the Charles D. Webster Detention Center while D’Aversa served as a corporal with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office. They were involved in securing inmates after flooding occurred in a section of the jail. During this incident, other deputies intentionally removed the handcuffs from a compliant inmate and assaulted him by punching and kicking. Morello and D’Aversa admitted to failing to intervene or stop this attack despite the inmate not posing any threat.
U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall will set sentencing dates for D’Aversa and Morello following pre-sentence investigations conducted by U.S. Probation Services. Both face potential penalties including up to 10 years in prison, fines, restitution, and up to three years of supervised release post-incarceration. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The announcement was made by Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Jill E. Steinberg for the Southern District of Georgia, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Sean Burke of the FBI Atlanta Field Office.
The FBI Atlanta Field Office is leading the investigation into this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney George J.C. Jacobs III for the Southern District of Georgia along with Trial Attorney Anita T. Channapati from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are handling prosecution duties.