Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Accused Jail Officers Plead Not Guilty

Four Fayette County Detention Center officers and one former officer pleaded not guilty in federal court Monday to charges they beat inmates and conspired to cover it up.

The FBI and the U.S. Justice Department have been investigating the jail at least since September 2006, when federal officers executed a search warrant at the jail.

Lexington Mayor Jim Newberry, who was elected after the investigation began, says the city has taken measures to provide a safe facility for employees and inmates. He says the employees with be suspended with pay, pending further investigation.

Indicted were Sgt. John McQueen, Cpl. Clarence McCoy, former Cpl. Scott Tyree, Sgt. Anthony Estep and Lt. Kristine Lafoe. Tyree no longer works at the jail, but the mayor's office says he will be suspended with pay from his job at the Town Branch Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The indictment alleges the five conspired to assault inmates without justification and to cover it up by filing false reports and charges.

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