By Quinn Coffman
The Advocate, Baton Rouge, La.
BATON ROUGE, La. — Four guards at the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison were indicted in federal court on Wednesday over accusations that they brought multiple prisoners to areas of the prison without cameras, beat the prisoners, and then conspired together to cover up the crimes, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys’ Office.
In one beating, an officer is accused of striking a pretrial detainee in the head with a metal folding chair, while another is accused of slamming an inmate’s head into a doorframe while escorting him, the U.S. Attorney said.
The indictment charges two former deputies and two former corporals with crimes relating to civil rights abuses, conspiracy, making a false report and witness tampering:
*Aaron Johnson, age 29, of Denham Springs, was charged with three counts of abuse of rights under color of law for assaulting unresisting and handcuffed inmates in isolated areas of the prison not covered by surveillance.
*Kenyaki Domino, age 29, of Baton Rouge, was charged with two counts of abuse of rights under color of law for assaulting unresisting and handcuffed inmates in isolated areas of the prison not covered by surveillance.
*Darius Powell, age 24, and Lionel James, age 30, both of Baton Rouge, were charged with two counts and one count, respectively, for abuse of rights under color of law for their conduct.
All four men were also charged with conspiring to cover up the assaults of EBR prisoners as well as falsifying reports about the incidents. Johnson and Powell also face counts of witness tampering.
According to the announcement about the indictments, the defendants allegedly used areas within the prison that did not have security cameras, such as the sally port area and interview rooms, to attack detainees while they were isolated and unresisting.
All four attacks resulted in bodily injury, and three involved the use of dangerous weapons.
The defendants allegedly conspired with one another to cover up the attacks by creating false cover stories that omitted the use of force. The conspiracies also involved text discussions between the defendants regarding EBRSO investigators and the falsification of reports.
The indictment also describes a social media post created by Powell that contained pictures and statements about one of the assaults, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
While employed at EBRPP, Johnson served as a field training officer responsible for providing deputies with on-the-job training, and Domino and James were responsible for supervising deputies, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
The defendants face up to ten years imprisonment on the abuse of rights and conspiracy counts and up to twenty years imprisonment on the false report and witness tampering offenses, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
“An overwhelming majority of law enforcement personnel are extremely professional and proficient in their duties,” said U.S. Attorney Kurt Wall in a prepared statement. “However, when someone in a position of trust has violated that responsibility, it is our job to make certain that they are held accountable. Thanks to East Baton Rouge Sheriff Sid Gautreaux and his office for their complete cooperation in this matter and additional thanks to our partners at the FBI for a very thorough investigation.”
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