The Associated Press
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. — A jury has cleared a Greenville federal prison guard of charges that he assaulted an inmate in 2004 and lied to cover it up.
Federal jurors in East St. Louis acquitted Eric Newsome of Vandalia last week of filing a false report, striking inmate John Clark and lying to a federal investigator of the matter.
A co-defendant, guard Daniel Gordon, has pleaded guilty to one count of falsifying records in a federal investigation.
In a plea deal, Gordon admitted asking Newsome to block a surveillance camera as they entered the cell and watching Newsome beat the man. He also admitted falsifying a report later that day.
Gordon could face up to 20 years in prison.