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| Florida Drops Prison Officer Charges |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 05/14/2002 |
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After two trials ended with acquittals, authorities said Friday they were dropping charges against the five remaining corrections officers accused of fatally beating a death row inmate. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement said it would forward its information in the 1999 death of Frank Valdes to the Justice Department to determine if a federal civil rights investigation is warranted. State Attorney Bill Cervone said the evidence against the remaining defendants didn't indicate that a conviction was likely. 'We took our best shot with our best evidence against the most culpable defendants and the jury chose not to accept that evidence,' he said. Wanda Valdes, the inmate's former wife, said she was devastated by the decision. If Attorney General John Ashcroft 'doesn't do something, it is going to allow murderers to go free,' said Valdes, who has filed a federal civil lawsuit against the prison system and officers. 'These men are no better than the men they are guarding on death row,' she said. 'I will never give this up. I want justice.' The case had been in doubt since the February acquittals of former Capt. Timothy Thornton, 36, Sgt. Charles Brown, 28, and Jason Griffis, 29. All had been charged with second-degree murder. The same charge was being dropped against former officers Andrew Lewis, 32, Montrez Lucas, 33, Donald Stanford, 53 and Dewey Beck, 54. Lucas was earlier acquitted of beating Valdes the day before the inmate died. Calls to their attorneys were not returned Friday. Charges were also being dropped against officer Robert Sauls, 39, who was accused of conspiracy, battery and official misconduct. His attorney, Stephen Dobson, said there was no evidence Sauls had any involvement in the death of Valdes. Valdes, 36, had been sentenced to die for the 1987 shooting death of a prison officer in an unsuccessful attempt to free another inmate from a prison van outside a doctor's office. Prosecutors said the officers beat Valdes at Florida State Prison at Starke to keep him from contacting reporters about the abuse of inmates. Valdes had fractures of his sternum, vertebrae, nose and jaw, along with numerous internal injuries. There were boot prints on his face, neck, abdomen and back. Corrections officials made changes after Valdes' death, including placing video cameras on prison wings. All the officers were fired more than two years ago, and corrections officials have said they will not be rehired. |
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