A former deputy from the Franklin County Sheriff's Office in Ohio has been charged with civil rights violations, according to a recently unsealed indictment. Matthew Carey, 27, of Grove City, Ohio, faces two counts of depriving an inmate of his civil rights and one count of conspiracy.
The indictment alleges that in March 2022, while working at the Franklin County Corrections Center, Carey disclosed a pretrial detainee's charges to another inmate. The victim was reportedly charged with a sex offense, which increased the risk of assault by other detainees. It is alleged that Carey's actions were interpreted as directing an attack on the victim.
Carey allegedly had no legitimate reason for revealing the charges and did not take steps to protect the victim from assault after disclosing this information. He is accused of depriving the detainee of constitutional rights under color of law by allowing unreasonable force and showing deliberate indifference to serious harm risks. These actions allegedly resulted in bodily injury.
Kenneth L. Parker, U.S. Attorney
| website U.S. Department of Justice
If convicted, Carey could face up to 10 years in prison for each charge.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced these charges alongside U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio and Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola from the FBI Cincinnati Field Office.
The FBI Cincinnati Field Office conducted the investigation into this case. Deputy Criminal Chief Jessica W. Knight for the Southern District of Ohio and Trial Attorney Cameron Bell from the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are leading prosecution efforts.
It is important to note that an indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.