After a four-day trial, a federal jury in Charleston, West Virginia, has convicted Chad Lester, a former correctional officer from Odd, West Virginia. The 35-year-old was found guilty of conspiracy to engage in witness tampering, witness tampering, and making false statements related to an assault by other officers that led to the death of an inmate identified as Q.B. on March 1, 2022.
The evidence presented during the trial revealed that Lester, while serving as a lieutenant at the Southern Regional Jail in Beaver, West Virginia, conspired with fellow officers to conceal the use of unlawful force against Q.B. He instructed officers to provide false statements to state investigators and added misleading information to an official incident report. On October 5, 2023, Lester made false statements to the FBI about the circumstances surrounding Q.B.'s injuries and death.
"Mr. Lester was the ringleader of the effort to cover up this horrific beating and keep the truth from the light of justice. He obviously failed at that," stated United States Attorney Will Thompson. Thompson expressed his commitment to protecting those who are vulnerable and ensuring accountability for wrongdoing.
Testimony showed that on March 1, 2022, correctional officers used unreasonable force on Q.B., who attempted to leave his assigned area. Officers conspired to violate Q.B.'s civil rights by unlawfully punishing him for his actions. As part of this conspiracy, they took Q.B. to an interview room without surveillance cameras where he was restrained and subjected to excessive force.
Lester directed officers to include false information in their reports and omit truthful details about the assault. He retaliated against those suspected of providing accurate information by threatening them with violence or assigning them undesirable duties. Lester also threatened an officer with assault if they provided truthful accounts regarding Q.B.'s injuries and death.
Lester's sentencing is scheduled for April 16, 2025; he faces up to 45 years in prison.
Lester is one of six former Southern Regional Jail officers indicted in connection with Q.B.'s assault and subsequent cover-up. His co-defendants have already pleaded guilty:
- Ashley Toney and Jacob Boothe admitted guilt on August 8, 2024.
- Mark Holdren pleaded guilty on November 13, 2024.
- Johnathan Walters and Cory Snyder entered guilty pleas on November 18 and November 19 respectively.
- Steven Nicholas Wimmer and Andrew Fleshman had previously pleaded guilty on November 2, 2023.
The FBI Pittsburgh Field Office conducted the investigation under United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin's oversight during the trial proceedings. Deputy Chief Christine M. Siscaretti and Trial Attorney Tenette Smith prosecuted the case for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
Further details can be accessed through PACER by searching Case No. 5:23-cr-188 or via a video available on YouTube.
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