A former jailer at a county jail outside of Texas was recently sentenced to prison for allegedly using excessive force on an inmate. Specifically, the former jailer was convicted by a jury who saw a video showing him using a stun gun on an 18-year-old inmate repeatedly as the teen was strapped in a restraint chair. Another jailer was also criminally charged in connection with the incident.

The charges that the jury convicted the jailer of were two counts of deprivation of rights under color of law.

A relative of the 18-year-old spoke on his behalf at the trial and said that the young man often had nightmares, suffered severe chest pains, and experienced long bouts of depression after the tasings in the restraint chair. The relative described the actions of the former jailer as heartless, callous, torturous, and indefensible actions.

The young man who was tased in this incident was found dead in his home two years later, and he died from a drug overdose, according to family members.

Among arguments made by the prosecutors was that in one instance, the former jailer deployed a stun gun and held it on the 18-year-old for approximately 50 seconds as the young man was strapped in a restraint chair. The former jailer was also accused of taunting the inmate.

See Part 1 and Part 2 of this continuing series. Learn about Texas jails found to be non-compliant regarding restraint chairs in the next installment of this series.

Posts on this site are intended as helpful resources for current and former inmates and their families. There is never an intention to suggest that impropriety of any kind has occurred on the part of an entity or individual.

–Guest Contributor