Harrison Co. settles inmate beating death suit
The Associated Press
Harrison County supervisors announced Monday that the county has reached a $3.5 million settlement for its part in a lawsuit brought by the family of Jessie Lee Williams Jr., an inmate beaten to death at the jail nearly 17 months ago.
Supervisors said $1 million will be covered by insurance, but the county will have to issue bonds to pay for the rest of the settlement.
Williams, 40, was beaten after being booked on misdemeanor charges on Feb. 4, 2006. He died two days later.
Two ex-jailers have admitted their roles in the assault in a related criminal case that remains under investigation by state and federal agents.
Four former Harrison County jail employees - Rick Gaston, Daniel Evans, Karl W. Stolze and Ryan Teel - are scheduled to go on trial Aug. 6 on federal criminal charges of conspiring to deprive the civil rights of inmates. An indictment accuses all four of conspiring to use excessive, unnecessary force and covering it up through false reports or no reports at all. ...
_www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070703/NEWS/707030367/1001 /news_ (http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070703/NEWS/707030367/1001/news)
July 3, 2007
Harrison Co. settles inmate beating death suit
Harrison County supervisors announced Monday that the county has reached a $3.5 million settlement for its part in a lawsuit brought by the family of Jessie Lee Williams Jr., an inmate beaten to death at the jail nearly 17 months ago.
Supervisors said $1 million will be covered by insurance, but the county will have to issue bonds to pay for the rest of the settlement.
Williams, 40, was beaten after being booked on misdemeanor charges on Feb. 4, 2006. He died two days later.
Two ex-jailers have admitted their roles in the assault in a related criminal case that remains under investigation by state and federal agents.
Four former Harrison County jail employees - Rick Gaston, Daniel Evans, Karl W. Stolze and Ryan Teel - are scheduled to go on trial Aug. 6 on federal criminal charges of conspiring to deprive the civil rights of inmates. An indictment accuses all four of conspiring to use excessive, unnecessary force and covering it up through false reports or no reports at all. ...
_www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?
AID=/20070703/NEWS/707030367/1001 /news_
(http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070703/NEWS/707030367/1001/news)