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| Jailers accused of enticing two inmates to assault two others |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 03/19/2004 |
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Two Newton County (Mo.) jailers face felony charges after being accused of enticing two inmates to assault two others at the jail last month. Adam Brandon Babbitt, 22, and Shane Steven Smith, 22, both of Neosho, were charged Thursday with acceding to corruption. Sheriff Ron Doerge said he fired the two on Wednesday, and they were charged with misdemeanor counts of third-degree assault. The county prosecutor replaced the misdemeanor charges with felonies on Thursday. Doerge said an internal investigation linked the men with a Feb. 22 incident in which two male inmates reportedly were attacked by two other inmates. He said his office is working with the county prosecutor in seeking assault charges against the inmates involved in the incident. Investigators believe one of the alleged attackers stood at the victims' cell door while the other hit one of the inmates in the cell. A second inmate was hit when he tried to help his cellmate, who sustained a black eye and bruises, officials said. After reviewing jail security tapes and interviewing inmates, investigators determined that the camera aimed at the cell had been turned off for a few minutes during the time of the attack, Doerge said. Investigators also believe the cell door was unlocked when it shouldn't have been, he said. Jailers had noticed that one of the inmates had a black eye and bruises around the time of the incident, the sheriff said, but the inmate said the injuries were caused by a fall. The other alleged victim showed now signs of assault, he said. Investigators are trying to find out why the jailers encouraged the inmates to attack the other inmates, and why the assailants agreed, Doerge said. He said one of the jailers talked to the inmates about what he wanted to happen, and the second jailer turned off the tape and opened the door. Babbitt was arrested Thursday and posted $1,500 bond, but Smith had not been found as of Thursday night. |
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