A former North Carolina federal prison lieutenant, Daniel Mitchell, has been convicted after he pleaded guilty for “conspiring to violate civil rights.”

What You Need To Know

  • A North Carolina federal prison lieutenant pleaded guilty after he was accused of using physical violence as punishment for an inmate

  • The lieutenant, Daniel Mitchell, admitted to conspiring to use violence against the inmate

  • Mitchell’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 31. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison

According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, Mitchell beat up an inmate as punishment at the Federal Correctional Institute Butner in North Carolina.

“Corrections Officers work in dangerous environments with limited resources and deserve our respect and gratitude,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

“But officers acting outside the law to injure an inmate erodes the rule of law, violates civil rights and puts other officers’ lives in jeopardy. We won’t tolerate misconduct in our prisons, by inmates or guards, and will take every measure to keep our institutions safe.”

According to court documents, Mitchell was on duty and supervising the special housing unit at Federal Correctional Institute Butner Medium II in Durham County when the alleged beating happened.

On the morning of Dec. 8, 2021, a female officer reported to Mitchell that an inmate “exposed himself” and “engaged in a sexual act within her view,” the U.S. Attorney Office said.

The document goes on to say that when the female office left, Mitchell and another unnamed corrections officer discussed how to handle the inmate’s misconduct. Normally, the disciplinary process would involve a formal write-up. However, Mitchell and the other officer decided to “teach him a lesson.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Mitchell, the unnamed officer and other officers moved the inmate into a holding cell for privacy. Once alone, the unnamed officer struck and kicked the inmate. The officer later had to be pulled off the inmate by other officers.

The inmate sustained injuries and called a medical emergency to his room because it aggravated his preexisting back condition, causing spasms, the court documents say.

An officer reported the beating, prompting an investigation from the U.S. Department’s Officer of Inspector General.

Mitchell and the unnamed officer admitted to meeting and conspiring to physically harm the inmate in the investigation.

Mitchell’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Mar. 31, where he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.